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After a banner year for girls basketball in the Ozarks, we’re primed to do it again. Legitimate state contenders are in every class. Division 1 signees and other future college players abound. Great conference races in the Big 8, COC Large, Ozark Conference, Ozark 7, and Summit Conference should keep the courts hot all year. And it all points to another bunch of teams in Columbia come March. Let’s go.
Top 5 Teams By Class
Class 1
- Verona – Senior Beth Bigham plus three talented sophomores make Verona a contender.
- Chadwick
- Humansville
- Bakersfield
- Walnut Grove
Class 2
- Purdy – Everyone returns from a very good squad that only had Miller between them and a district title.
- Sparta
- Osceola
- Miller
- Thayer
Class 3
- Fair Grove – Lady Eagles return Erin Gavin & Kayla Kepler, and get some new help to make their aggressive attack work again.
- Stockton
- Mt. Vernon
- Conway
- Seneca
Class 4
- Webb City – Any way you cut it, the Lady Cardinals are loaded. The addition of Kyndal Clark really puts them above the rest.
- Republic
- Rogersville
- Cassville
- Aurora
Class 5
- Kickapoo – Haven’t won a district championship since their state title in 2005. It’s time.
- Nixa
- Glendale
- Hillcrest
- Lebanon
10 Players to Watch
- Hannah Wilkerson, Miller
- Bethanie Funderburk, Nixa
- Bridget Hanafin, Clever
- Kaitlin Jaeger, Webb City
- Jordan Garrison, Osceola
- Whitney Mills, Thayer
- Casey Carroll, Kickapoo
- Addy Roller, Purdy
- Kayla Coffer, Sparta
- Chayla Rutledge, Stockton
10 More
- Najee Donson, Rogersville
- Kasey Painter, Morrisville
- Kenzie Williams, Mt. Vernon
- Megan Deines, Glendale
- Kayln Vlasin, Neosho
- Erin Gavin, Fair Grove
- Kylie Williamson, Lighthouse Christian
- Maggie Arnall, Hartville
- Kayla Dooms, Ava
- Kayla Bays, Humansville
And Some More
- Lauren McCurry, Pleasant Hope
- Jacci Yust, Seneca
- Elle Aston, Republic
- Kaile Weinreis, Ash Grove
- Hannah Elkins, Cassville
- Kallie Weant, Weaubleau
- Lauren McRae, Carl Junction
- Lindsey Bragg, East Newton
- Santana Cruz, Conway
- Destani Stensrud, Exeter
- Kayla Kepler, Fair Grove
- Tyler Brock, Laquey
- Brooke Stevens, Sparta
- Shelby Ellison, Licking
- Jessica Holland, Everton
- Brandy Uchtman, Fordland
- Emily Cline, Glendale
- Bailey Irvine, Hillcrest
- Tristan Carrisquillo, Jenna Chadd, Jessica Smith – Verona
- Kylie Dudley, Lebanon
- Micha White, Stoutland
- Sonya Kilongkilong, McAuley
- Kaitlin Cramer – Stockton
- Shelby White – Purdy
- Katy Cooper – East Newton
Conference Picks
Big 8
- Champion: Mt. Vernon – POY Kenzie Williams will have a fight on her hands in a deep conference.
- Contenders: Aurora, Cassville, East Newton, Seneca
Big Springs
- Champion: Couch – Still enough skill moving up to keep them on top even with losses from last years team.
- Contenders: Alton, Eminence
COC Large
- Champion: Webb City – Coach Brad Shorter has a wealth of depth and athletic ability at his disposal.
- Contenders: Nixa, Republic
COC Small
- Champion: Rogersville – Najee Donson is the motor that makes them go. But they will have a battle.
- Contenders: Marshfield
Frisco League
- Champion: Laquey – Both Laquey & Richland lose one senior, but Lady Hornets came out on top last year.
- Contenders: Richland, Crocker
Mark Twain
- Champion: Chadwick – Clear favorites here. The battle should be for second.
- Contenders: Everton, Hurley
Mid-Lakes
- Champion: Fair Grove – Should be a great year for Erin Gavin & the Lady Eagles. Four excellent teams here.
- Contenders: Ash Grove, Skyline, Stockton
Ozark
- Champion: Kickapoo – Lady Chiefs look primed for a run, but contenders and dark horses lurk everywhere.
- Contenders: Glendale, Hillcrest
Ozark 7
- Champion: Purdy – New coach Grant Young has a loaded squad, and some tough challengers.
- Contenders: Exeter, Verona
Polk County
- Champion: Humansville – Kayla Bays leads a Humansville squad looking to pick up where they left off last year.
- Contenders: Walnut Grove, Wheatland
SCA
- Champion: Ava – Kayla Dooms is one of the better unsung players in SW Mo. She’ll have to prove it to keep Thayer at bay.
- Contenders: Thayer
SWCL
- Champion: Sparta – Lots returning from the 31-0 squad. But good teams lurk.
- Contenders: Blue Eye, Clever
Spring River
- Champion: Miller – Miller is the clear favorite here. Catch them and Hannah Wilkerson whenever you can.
- Contenders: Jasper
Summit
- Champion: Hartville – This will be a dogfight for Maggie Arnall and the Lady Eagles.
- Contenders: Conway, Fordland
WEMO
- Champion: Osceola – Brooke Jurgensmeyer is a big loss, but Lady Indians should still be tops.
- Contenders: Adrian, Archie
White River
- Champion: Bakersfield – Only loses one player from last year’s final four team.
- Contenders: Dora
Isn’t Osceola a class 2 team?
Yes, it just wouldn’t be a preview if I didn’t put someone in the wrong class. Laquey boys last year. Osceola girls this year. But it’s fixed now. Thanks for the catch.
How about Skyline in the Mid-Lakes? They are always tough.
You know what, they’re a contender. Definitely down a bit this year, but Coach Cheek has earned the benefit of the doubt. They’re listed.
No Laquey love in the top five? Really?
(Also, I think that Tyler Brock needs to be a player to watch in basketball.)
Agreed. Which reminds me of a couple of other Frisco Leaguers I need to include.
Yeah, really. But not because they’re not a good team. No group is deeper this year than Class 2 girls. I also had to leave out Hartville, Couch, Richland, Clever, Crane, Galena, & Weableau. If you want the brass tacks, I have them at #7 right behind Hartville.
Yeah, I actually realized that as soon as I posed the comment and then looked back at the top five. I still think they can make a run.
All I know is I’m really looking forward to seeing them play Sparta.
um….I think Glendale will be a point or two better than Nixa. The Lady Chiefs lost Hannah Haden and thay might hurt their Final Four chances.
I am pretty sure AG should be up there in top 5 for class 2!
No. Ash Grove is class 3. And a good team. They’re just outside the top 5 right now and could definitely make an appearance. Especially if they can beat Fair Grove.
I think Jamie Hale from Chadwick should be a player to watch. She had a great freshman year and is primed for a big year. Just came off all-state performance in cross country.
Pleasant Hope could challenge Fair Grove in the mid-lakes. Lauren McCurry is healthy for the first time in 18 months. She is a top 10 player in the area – outstanding jump shooter.
Don’t count out last year’s Class 1 State Champs, Exeter. True, they lost 3 valuable seniors, but Coach Jason Cole does an awesome job and has a good base with his remaining talent.