The high school basketball season starts it version of March Madness this week and there are many teams and players to keep an eye on as they look to get to Mizzou Arena the second and third weekends of March.
In Class 5 boys, McCluer North is looking to get back to Mizzou Arena and defend their state championship, but there are many teams that are going to stand in their way.
In the St. Louis area, District 2 at St. Louis University High is one to watch as Webster Groves (22-4) enters as the one seed with CBC challenging as the number two team in the district. This would be a very interesting match-up if both teams make it to the Final on Friday night. Taking control of the Statesmen offense is senior guard Rayshawn Simmons. Simmons is averaging 17 points per game and over 7 assists. He makes the Webster offense tick. But, the Cadets will counter with the big man, Jordan Barnett, who is putting up 14.3 points per game. The junior is being looked at by several NCAA D-I schools and does so many things well on the floor.
In District 3 action, Parkway South has the inside track on winning another district championship, but the Patriots will have to most likely get by conference foe, Lafayette. South knocked off the Lancers last week to win the Suburban West title and has won eight out of their last nine games. Look for senior Eric Lurent to pace the Patriots. The Lancers and Marquette will need to figure out a way to slow down the Patriots.
DeSmet leads a talented group in District 4 action at Parkway Central. The Spartans have played some great ball the past few weeks and have been led by Nolan Berry. Berry, a 6'8 forward who has committed to Butler, is a force both inside and out. Berry is averaging 20 ppg and can pull the trigger on the three and works hard on the boards. Parkway North will be a challenge for the Spartans. The Vikings started the year very strong, have slowed a bit, but forward Darrell Johnson has been a big part of the Vikings success this season, scoring 16 ppg and being a force on the boards.
The Metro Catholic Conference champion Vianney is the heavy favorite in District 5 at Fox. Tony Cochran continues to be the pace setter for the 24th ranked team in the latest USA Today high school poll. Cochran is scoring at a 16.8 ppg clip and is one of the top shooters in the St. Louis area. The Golden Griffins will get a challenge from backyard rival Kirkwood.
The GAC Conference takes the stage in Districts 6 and 7 out in St. Charles County. In District 6, Troy is having a nice season and clinched the GAC South title last week. The Trojans were the state runners-up last year and will look to Derek Deters to help get them back to the Final Four. Deters is putting up 16 ppg and is a great leader on the floor. While District 7 is wide open. Ft. Zumwalt South and Zumwalt North are the teams to watch here at North.
The toughest district in the state may very well be District 8. This is also called the “Suburban North Post Season Tournament”, as all of the teams all play in the Sub North. There are three teams that could all make it to the Final Four, including the defending state champions, McCluer North. The Stars return many players from last year's team including University of Auburn recruit, Jordan Granger. Hazelwood Central is a very young team, but has played some great basketball over the past few weeks. Jordan Martin leads the Hawk attack with 14 ppg. McCluer is another team that has a shot to win the district with their senior guard, Demetrious Floyd.
District 9 takes us out to Central Mo. and Rock Bridge is again doing some great things out in Columbia. Travis Jorgenson, who has committed to Mizzou, is a leader for the Bruins, who come into district play with a 21-4 record. Watch out for Hickman in this district as well.
Staying in Central Mo., District 10 has another field that could see a few upsets. Rolla is the No. 1 seed and enters play with a 17-8 record. They will get a tough match-up in the semi with West Plains, who has played pretty well over the past three weeks.
The Springfield area is seeing some great basketball this season and District 11 will showcase the No. 1 team in the state coaches poll, Nixa. The Eagles are riding high with a 25-1 mark and are led by Austin Ruder. Ruder is the floor leader for the Eagles with a great jumper and can handle the rock. The Eagles will get challenges from Glendale and Parkview in a district that may be the second toughest in the state.
Out in the Kansas City side, our good friend Chad Rader from 810varsity.com has this say about the districts in KC.
In District 13, Lee's Summit North returns firepower from the Class 5 third-place team in senior guard Will Harrington and Matt Ellwood, but sputtered early in the year, including losses to fellow city foes Lee's Summit West and Lee's Summit. But North has caught fire at the right time, winning seven straight entering districts, knocking off Rockhurst and Blue Springs South, the No. 2 seed in the district. The Jaguar fans were enjoying life for nearly five straight months. With a Class 6 football title under their belt, BSS came out of the blocks smoking with a 12-1 start on the court. The Jaguars were nipped in the Culver's Classic finals by Lee's Summit West, 53-51, and rebounded with five straight wins. Yet the Jags have sputtered with two losses and a narrow win against Blue Springs to end the season.
In District 14, after a miserable 4-6 start, Winnatonka reeled off 12-straight wins, including the Grain Valley Tournament title. But Tonka hit a wall with two losses to end the regular season. On the other side of the bracket, both Liberty and Kearney lurk. The Blue Jays just knocked red-hot Grandview to end the regular season, while Kearney dealt the Griffons a 14-point loss earlier in the year. It's hard to overlook Kearney in any sport, especially in the post-season. Kearney won't overwhelm you, averaging just over 46 points per contest, but they have savvy players in senior guards Eric Farley (11.5 ppg) and Alex Prewitt (4.9 apg, 1.7 steals) and size with 6'7” senior Chris Head (10.2 ppg, 7.3 rpb) and 6'8” sophomore Dray Starzl (6.6 rpg).
In District 15, St. Joe Central sure look mighty at 19-5. But Central was just 1-5 against teams ranked in the 810 Varsity Top 25 (lost to LS West twice, Rockhurst, Leavenworth, Olathe East; beat Center). Fortunately for Central, there aren't any ranked teams in districts. The Indians are paced by Shun Williams, a 6'5” junior forward putting up 13.8 ppg and 7.6 rpg. Sophomore Elijah Lee also nets 13.1 ppg and 6.9 boards.
District 16 will see Lee's Summit West looking strong. As long as the Titans don't have to face Ruskin (0-2 in two meetings), West has been superb this year. Led by the senior guard trio of Shaquille Harrison, Austin Panko and Nathan Jackson – along with Harrison's younger brother, sophomore Monte, the Titans are very guard-oriented but very savvy. Two-point wins over Rockhurst, Lee's Summit North and Blue Springs South this year have shown their grit, along with many other notable wins (Grandview twice, Sumner Academy, Olathe East, Hogan Prep, Raytown South). Yet the hiccups against Ruskin and Truman leave the door open for anyone to topple the Titans. Rockhurst grinded out wins early in the season, but since its loss to Blue Springs South on Feb. 7, the Rock has rolled foes by an average of 30.5 in their past four contests. Kyle Wolf, a 6'5” junior, paces the offense with 16.0 ppg and 9.3 rebounds. Senior forward Brian Fosselman also adds scoring punch at a 10.0 ppg clip. The Hawklets look to rematch Lee's Summit West in the district final, whom Rockhurst fell to, 60-58, in a Dec. 12 meeting.
This is going to be a great week with some awesome games this Friday night.
Foxsportsmidwest.com will have a total of eight games on the live stream this Friday night with coverage coming from MICDS and Parkway South on the St. Louis side and from Blue Springs South and William Christman in the Kansas City area.
