OS.Net Girls Basketball Rankings - 12/17/09

Still early in the year but here’s our first impressions of the season.  The next few weeks will tell us a lot so we’ll wait 4 week before we do this again.

CLASS 1

1. Walnut Grove
2. Chadwick
3. Humansville
4. Eminence
5. Exeter

Considered: Bakersfield, Dadeville, Verona

Walnut Grove has the best win of this group right now by beating Humansville.  Chadwick has multiple scoring options and is very deep.  Arianne Henry gives Humansville a lethal 1-2 punch with Kayla Bays.  Eminence is undefeated behind the play of the Williams sisters.  And Exeter’s win over Verona shows they’re more than Whitney Edie.

CLASS 2

1. Sparta
2. Miller
3. Purdy
4. Laquey
5. Couch

Considered: Clever, Fordland, Hartville, Newburg, Osceola, Richland, Thayer

The defending champs lead the deepest group on the girls side after an impressive start.  With only a loss to Webb City, Miller is looking strong & driven.  Purdy is just going to improve as the year goes along.  Tyler Brock heads up a Laquey team that looks like they haven’t lost a step.  And Couch has a big win over Thayer to their credit already.

CLASS 3

1. Mt. Vernon
2. Fair Grove
3. Ash Grove
4. Stockton
5. Skyline

Considered: Ava, Blue Eye, Conway, East Newton, Morrisville, Seneca

Another great group to choose from.  Mt. Vernon has been easily the most impressive of this group so far.  While only a loss to Mt. Vernon tarnishes Fair Grove’s record.  Likewise Kaile Weinreis and Ash Grove have given Stockton their only loss so far.  Skyline’s only loss was a 51-46 home defeat at the hands of Marshfield.

CLASS 4

1. Webb City
2. Republic
3. West Plains
4. Buffalo
5. MacDonald County

Considered: Cassville, Marshfield

Webb City may be the best team in the entire state in any class.  It’s going to be hard to catch them.  Republic only has the loss to a good Mt. Vernon team, and they’re not totally healthy.  West Plains is winning with defense this year holding opponents to under 40 ppg.  Buffalo is off to a solid start but gets into the COC after the first of the year.  No bad losses for Mac County so far.

CLASS 5

1. Nixa
2. Glendale
3. Ozark
4. Branson
5. Kickapoo

Considered: Carthage, Hillcrest

Everybody is following the leader right now, and that’s Nixa.  Influx of young talent has then looking great.  Glendale will continue to improve & challenge.  Likewise, Ozark should be even stronger as we move along.  Branson is off to a great start but can they maintain it.  Loss of Hana Haden has hurt Kickapoo more than I thought it would.  Don’t write off the Lady Chiefs just yet though.