We have reached the post season for basketball in Missouri. Small schools districts are underway and the big schools start as early as Saturday.
Here is a look at how I see the districts involving local teams…. Before anyone gets upset.. bear in mind that I am going with what I think will most likely happen and not necessarily what I would like to see happen.
Class 2 District 11 Girls….
The number one seed is Blue Eye and I don’t see a reason to go any other direction. The Lady Bulldogs are having another solid season under Coach Elfrink and his young club really looks to be the class of the field.
Miller or Crane will have a shot in the final. Crane is the #3 seed but I look for their experience to pay off in the semi-final.
Class 2 District 11 Boys…
Marionville is the #1 seed here. But I think any of the top three can win it. I am going to go with the winner of the semi-final between Crane and Blue Eye to pull off the upset in the Championship game. Andrew Mitchell may be the best player in the field. If he gets hot this week Blue Eye may just take a trip to Carthage next Wednesday for a boys-girls double header.
Class 3 District 11 Girls…
Strafford is the number one seed and is the best team in Missouri at any class. It would take a huge upset for them not to win this thing going away. At this point my only question is will anyone keep the TURBO CLOCK from starting.
Forsyth and Hollister are both on this field. Forsyth has been really good at times but got a tough draw against a really good Clever team in the first round. Would love to see them stick around and Lacey Moore and the crew make a run, but its going to be a uphill battle.
Class 3 District 11 Boys….
This district is loaded at the top. Fair Grove is the host and the top seed and in the end the team that I think will come out. But, Clever and Springfield Catholic are both title worthy contenders. Don’t count out Strafford. With Mike Wilson on the bench anything is always possible and they have been playing a lot better as of late.
If Forsyth can get back the intensity they played with the first half of the year their first round game with the Indians could be a fun one to watch. They have the ability to pull off the upset but only if they find that cohesive teamwork we saw before Christmas. Hollister has shown glimpses. If ever there was a time to throw the switch, that time is now.
Class 4 District 9 girls…
Rogersville is the two seed behind West Plains but I am going with the Lady Wildcats to win it. They have wins over the Zizzers and third seeded Bolivar this year and stayed within 12 of Strafford. None of those three would surprise me advancing…
Reeds Spring is in the district, they take on Bolivar in the opening round. Boy, what a turnaround for the Lady Wolves. They have already won NINE games this year. That is up from two a season ago. What a tremendous job.
Class 4 District 9 Boys….
Everything points to a rematch of the Bolivar Tournament Championship game on this same floor a few weeks ago. Hillcrest beat Bolivar in Overtime to win that one… I think they do it again.
Reeds Spring gets a rematch with Marshfield in the opening round. The Wolves lost a close one to the BlueJays Friday Night. They get revenge in the rematch.
Class 5 District 11 Girls….
This will be the one that I am accused of being a “homer” for picking. I am going with Branson to win it. The Lady Pirates are playing their best basketball, right now. Since the upset loss to Nixa they have wheeled off six in a row including wins against Webb City, St Joe Benton, Republic, and Ozark all on the road. The loss to Nixa is probably the only thing that prevented them from being seeded ahead of Kickapoo. Now, having to beat Ozark and Kickapoo both to win the tournament is no easy task, and one of the reasons that top seed would have been nice. But, this group of girls has a real shot to make it happen.
Class 5 District 11 Boys…
I like the club that Mark Schweitzer has at Ozark and I do like the offensive ability of Glendale. But there is just no way to pick against Kickapoo in this one. The Chiefs are good, really good. They are deep. If there is some hope for the others, it might be that the Chiefs have not won any of the three Tournaments they have played in this year…. that is until you look at the tournaments that they have played in….. Sorry Folks Chiefs win it going away……
Branson plays Parkview in the opening round. Its been a rough year for the Pirates. If they could pull of an upset and get a district win it might take just a little sting out of a long season.
