Championship Thursday Night Predictions (Class 4-5 Districts)
The first wave of district championship games in Missouri Classes 4 and 5 will be held tonight. Here is a breakdown of those games and our predictions. Class 4 District 2: Farmington (17-12) vs. St. Genevieve (16-10), 7 p.m. –…
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Continue ReadingThe first wave of district championship games in Missouri Classes 4 and 5 will be held tonight. Here is a breakdown of those games and our predictions.
Class 4
District 2: Farmington (17-12) vs. St. Genevieve (16-10), 7 p.m. – Top-seeded Farmington has a talented freshman in 6’3″ Tycen Gray, who scored 16 points in the district semifinal win against DeSoto. St. Gen is seeking its first district crown since 1947. They are led by 6’4″ 250-pound post player Morgan Schenck. (Prediction: Farmington)
District 3: Hillsboro (21-6) vs. Lutheran South (21-6), 8 p.m. – Hillsboro has one of the state’s top sophomores in 6’7″ forward Gaven Pinkley, plus career 3-point shooting leader Tyler Schwartz. South features senior guard Lezoghia Member-Meneh, who scored 43 points in the Crusaders’ semifinals victory over Festus. Junior forward John Yeager is a productive player inside. (Prediction: Lutheran South)
Class 5
District 1: Poplar Bluff (17-9) vs. Jackson (15-12), 7:30 p.m. – A battle of SEMO Conference foes. Poplar Bluff won the first meeting 69-65 on Feb. 15. The Mules feature 6’6″ junior forward Willie Lucas and Top 25 freshman Marcedus Leech. Jackson is led by 6’2″ senior guard Jacob Smith and 6’6″ sophomore forward Cameron Hester. The Indians have a winning tradition come postseason time. (Prediction: Jackson)
District 5: Hazelwood Central (24-4) vs. DeSmet (13-14), 6:30 p.m. – The Hawks have been one of the state’s top teams, led by 6’6″ Kansas State signee Xavier Sneed, 6’6″ forward Dominique Dobbs and point guard Steve Holloway. Don’t be fooled by DeSmet’s losing record. The Spartans have been hindered by injuries, but they are healthy now. They feature 6’7″ junior Division I prospect Ryan Stipanovich and 6’2″ senior guard Dillon Gilkey. (Prediction: Hazelwood Central).
District 9: Rock Bridge (20-6) vs. Blue Springs South (15-11), 7:45 p.m. – Rock Bridge has been on a roll after a slow start. The Bruins feature 6’6 forward Eysan Wiley, 6’6″ Mizzou football recruit Tre Williams and a crew of talented freshman. Blue Springs South is led by one of the state’s top guards in Nebraska-Omaha recruit K.J. Robinson and Northern Iowa football recruit Briley Moore-McKinney. (Prediction: Blue Springs South)
District 10: Jefferson City (18-8) vs. Waynesville (14-12), 7:30 p.m. – Jefferson City is led by junior guard Kamari Balton, who scored 33 points in a district semifinal victory over Lebanon. The Jays also feature 6’4″ shooter Seth Stegeman and junior guard Gunnar See. Waynesville features a crew of talented guards in Dwayne Morton and Joe Johnson. This is their second meeting. Jefferson City won the first meeting 61-49 on Jan. 11. (Prediction: Jefferson City).
District 12: Republic (21-6) vs. Nixa (22-5), 7:15 p.m. – Republic was one of the hottest teams in the state down the stretch. They have a talented backcourt in juniors Treydon Rackley and Ty Stevens. Nixa will counter with good size, led by 6’7″ Chase Allen and 6’6″ Garrett Bacon. Both programs have doing a lot of winning in recent years. Republic won the first meeting 56-50 on Feb. 2. (Prediction: Republic)