Month: November 2017

The Southwest Missouri Football Coaches Association has released its All-Area Team and while Mount Vernon,  deservedly is highlights the field, Reeds Spring is more than well represented.

On the offensive side of the ball: Kelly Newton was voted first team running back.  Austin Bradfield and Asa Baker both were chosen as first team offensive line. And Logen Plumb was also recognized for his great season and the first team Tight End.

Defensively, the Wolves were in the mix as well.  COC-Small Defensive Player of the Year, Ben Moler is also a first team all-area linebacker.  Austin Bradfield makes another appearance and is joined on the first team defensive line by Collin Cross.  But that’s not all, Seth Stamps joins the group as a first team defensive back.

Cole Nordin received second team All-Area honors as a defensive back.

Hollister’s Josh Neville was selected as a second team linebaker and teammate Logan Armitage made the cut as a second team receiver.

The Player of the Year honors were swept by Mount Vernon.  Running Back Sammy Robinson got the nod on the offensive side of the ball and Linebacker Will Boswell was the choice on defense.

Reeds Spring, Forsyth, and Blue Eye all got victories in the opening round of the 57th annual Forsyth Tournament…  Just a few random thoughts from on opening round games…

1. Lane Carroll looked to be in mid-season form.  I like the added aggressiveness.  He dropped 27 on SofO
2. I know he will downplay it.. But,  Congrats again to Barry Yocom on win #100
3. Andrew Mitchell is going to have a tremendous year at Blue Eye, but the Bulldogs have more weapons at their disposal
4. Really impressed with the defensive effort from Forsyth.  They bring that every night, they are gonna win plenty of ballgames.
5. Micaiah Rocha can be unstoppable at times.
6. School of the Ozarks is gonna win plenty of games this year.
7. Hollister battled.  Down 20 in the first quarter,  Tigers could have rolled over but they battled.  They will be fine and will get a big boost when Derek Morris is healthy and cleared to play.
8.  Always good to have three of four semi-finalists be local teams.
9. Friday should give us a couple of really good games.
10. Balanced field no doubt.

The College of the Ozarks Lady Cats have played one of the toughest schedules imaginable to date and have come thru it unscathed to this point.  Coach Becky Vests ladies sit at a perfect 10-0 on the season after a come from behind win at NAIA  DI nationally ranked John Brown last night.

CofO moves up two spots from their preseason ranking and sit at #6 in the country.   They check in tied at #4.  A little look ahead shows a matchup with #2 Concordia coming up on Dec 19th.   Here is a look at how today’s poll looks….

The College of the Ozarks lost their first game of the year to Morningside.  But since then the young Bobcats have done nothing but win.  Last night they pulled off a thriller on the road defeating John Brown 88-84.  It was the eighth strait win for Coach Steve Shepards ball team.

Today they enter the national rankings at # 17 in the country…  Here is how the poll looks:

RANK	PRVS	SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES)	RECORD	TOTAL POINTS
1	5	Northwestern (Iowa) (7)	9-0	302
2	1	Cornerstone (Mich.) (1)	8-2	295
3	3	Saint Francis (Ind.) (1)	7-2	290
4	6	Indiana Wesleyan	7-1	276
5	NR	Indiana Tech (3)	8-0	274
6	9	IU East (Ind.)	9-2	266
7	7	College of Idaho	6-3	252
8	13	Southwestern (Kan.)	9-0	244
9	18	Briar Cliff (Iowa)	9-1	232
10	8	Trinity International (Ill.)	8-2	216
11	RV	Southeastern (Fla.)	6-1	201
12	15	Taylor (Ind.)	7-1	200
13	11	Southern Oregon	5-3	189
14	2	Union (Ky.)	5-4	165
15	RV	Morningside (Iowa)	5-1	141
16	22	Bethel (Ind.)	8-1	131
17	NR	College of the Ozarks (Mo.)	7-1	128
18	NR	Jamestown (N.D.)	9-2	123
19	23	Montreat (N.C.)	9-0	122
20	RV	Oklahoma Wesleyan	8-2	115
21	RV	Spring Arbor (Mich.)	9-1	108
T22	16	Oregon Tech	6-3	107
T22	20	St. Thomas (Fla.)	4-2	107
24	25	Warner (Fla.)	7-3	105
25	19	IU Southeast (Ind.)	5-4	85

Others Receiving Votes: Roosevelt (Ill.) 47; Midland (Neb.) 47; Michigan-Dearborn 35; Allen (S.C.) 26; Stillman (Ala.) 26; Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 18; Cal Maritime 18; Keiser (Fla.) 16; Warner Pacific (Ore.) 15; Northwest Christian (Ore.) 6; Friends (Kan.) 6; Bellevue (Neb.) 3; York (Neb.) 3; Dakota State (S.D.) 3.

 

A few random thoughts (right or wrong) as we hit the high school basketball season..

1. Blue Eye Girls are LOADED!!!!!!!!!!
2. Looking forward to seeing Priscilla Williams play
3. Good to see Branson girls finally get a big move-in instead a move-out.
4. Reeds Spring boys could be in for a special season
5. Got to see the new Harrison gym… its incredible
6. Andrew Mitchell may just go for 25-15 more often then not.  Dude is a special talent.
7. Forsyth boys have a shot to be a good group.  They have some athleticism that will cause some matchup problems
8. Looking forward to most the area teams being in the Forsyth Tourn.
9. Branson boys have some new faces (on the bench and on the floor) they are a team that will improve more and more as they learn the new system.
10. Really hoping for a healthy return for Derek Morris at Hollister.  He can be a difference maker
11. If you don’t know the name Cole Nordin, you will

Could go on for a while… lots to look forward to… some special players that could reach some special marks this year… really looking foreword to the season.   Get out and check out some action next week.  Tournaments going on at Forsyth and Blue Eye and the Battle at the Border taking place at Branson.

The preseason coaches poll has been released for Missouri High School Girls Basketball.  And, fresh off a State quarterfinal appearance, last year, the Branson Lady Pirates debut at #4.

Heres a look at the entire poll,by class, with the teams from SW Missouri in bold…

Class 1
1 Walnut Grove
2 South Iron
3 Wheatland
4 Southwest (Livingston County)
5 Norborne
6 Jefferson
7 Mound City
8 Leeton
9 Community
10 Madison

Class 2
1 Skyline
2 Oran
3 Neelyville
4 Thayer
5 Mid Buchanan
6 Clopton
7 Scotland County
8 Richland
9 Santa Fe
10 New Haven

Class 3
1 Strafford
2 Trenton
3 Whitfield
4 Principia
5 Monroe City
6 Lutheran North
7 Boonville
8 Hermann
9 Central (Park Hills)
10 Father Tolton

Class 4
1 Incarnate Word
2 Lincoln Prep
3 Parkway North
4 Dexter
5 St. Pius X (Kansas City)
6 Carl Junction
7 Lutheran South
8 Center
9 Osage
10 Chillicothe

Class 5
1 Kirkwood
2 Rock Bridge
3 Jefferson City
4 Branson
5 Washington
6 Lee’s Summit
7 Jackson
8 Lee’s Summit North
9 Republic
10 Webster Groves

Branson senior third baseman Skyler Harris still has a full season of high school baseball ahead of him.  The Pirate baseballer is well known for his grit and hustle.  And those attributes have paid off as, earlier today, he signed a National Letter of Intent to further his career at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, MO

The Vikings compete in the Heart of America Conference.

Branson Tri-Lakes News Sports Director Jim Connell and I, got a chance to talk to Harris on his big day… SkylerSigning (click link for interview with Skyler)

 

Alexis Mitchell took over the reigns of the Hollister Volleyball program this year, and did so, with only one senior.  But, what a senior she got.

Raven Ross proved to be a special one.  She had 309 Kills on the season to lead the Lady Tigers.  But, she was far from a one season wonder.  She ended her Hollister career with 635 Kills, 98 Aces, 666 digs and 99 Solo Blocks.

On Thursday she signed a National Letter of Intent to further her volleyball and academic career at Park University near Kansas City.

Park is 29-3 this season and ranked #7 in the country and is currently awaiting the start of the National Championships.  They are a perennial top ten team.

RavenSigning (click link to hear interview with Raven)

The Bracket for the 57th annual Forsyth Tournament has been released.  And features a number of area schools.

Reeds Spring and School of the Ozarks will tip off the event when they get together at 6:00 on Monday Nov 27th.  That game will be followed by Strafford vs Berryville, AR.

Tuesdays games will pit Blue Eye against Hollister at 6:00 while the host Panthers entertain Marshfield at 7:30.

Consolation games will take place at 6:00 and 7:30 on Thursday Night while the Semi-Finals will be played on Friday at the same times.

All eight teams will take the court on Saturday.  The seventh place game tips at 4:00 with the consolation finals, the third place game, and the Championship Game to follow.

57th Annual Forsyth Tourney Bracket

 

The final All-Conference team for the Small Central Ozarks Conference has been released.  Next year Reeds Spring, Hollister, Catholic, Rogersville, and Marshfield will move to the newly expanded Big 8.  Buffalo heads to a newly formed league, leaving only Bolivar without a league to call home.

A number of area athletes received honors…

As expected Reeds Spring got a lot of recognition after going undefeated in league play.   The entire offensive line receive a spot on the list…

Autin Bradfield, Asa Baker, Cole Crutcher, and Tight End Logen Plumb were named to the first team.  They were joined by record setting running back Kelly Newton.

Connor Wiest took a spot on the second team as did quarterback Blake Gronvold.  And, Justin Miller received Honorable Mention.

Defensively, Austin Bradfield got first team recognition for his play as a Defensive End.  He was joined on the top squad by Linebacker Ben Moler and Safety Seth Stamps.

Defensive Tackle Collin Cross was named to the second team.  OLB Devin Hackathorn joined him.  And, Cornerback Cole Nordin was on the team as well.

Kyle Modlin was named honorable mention for his play at the corner position as well.

Hollister got a little recognition as well.  Josh Neville was named 1st team outside linebacker…

Player of the year honors on defense went to Wolves linebacker Ben Moler.  While one the offensive side of the ball the coaches decided to split the award between Catholic quarterback Tyson Riley and Reeds Spring Running Back Kelly Newton.

It should be noted that the awards are voted on by conference coaches and that during the voting process you are not allowed to vote for your own players….