What’s Coming Up: Southwest Missouri Nov.28-Dec.3
The turkey and dressing has digested, meaning high school football is over and it’s FINALLY time to get in a controlled environment and watch some hoops. In Southwest Missouri there is a myriad of annual tournaments to kickoff the 2016-17 campaign, with many offering multiple marquee matchups. Here is your guide to this week’s top games around SWMO.
NOTE: All statistics are from last season unless noted
2016 MBCA Hall of Fame Classic (Dec. 1-3)
Semifinals: Dec. 2 at 7pm and 8:30pm
Championship: Dec. 3 at 5pm
This event is quickly becoming one of the best in the Ozarks. From a pure talent standpoint this is the best tournament this weekend. DeSmet and St. Joseph Lafayette both offer D-1 talent in the form of Ryan Stipanovich (Bradley) and Caleb Bennett (Leigh) respectively, but locally Nixa, Parkview and Hillcrest aren’t lacking in the talent department either. Nixa lost Chase Allen, but 6-foot-6 senior Christian Bundy was a load playing alongside Allen last year. In terms of athleticism, Bundy will be the most athletic post in the COC. The biggest key for Nixa is the return of guards Seth Viebrock (11.2 PPG, 49% 3FG) and Braeden Combs. Both guards can attack off the dribble and are capable defenders. Viebrock, a 5-foot-10 senior, played extremely well for Jay Osborne last year and the team was at its best when he was attacking. Combs, a 6-foot sophomore, was thrown into the fire immediately last year and showed flashes of having elite talent. He will be a terrific player and the quicker he realizes that potential the better Nixa will be… Landon Cornish will look to get Parkview going behind the play of senior guard JT Brown. The 6-foot-1 combo guard scored 17 points in a season-opening win over Rogers Heritage. His ability to create of the dribble will be huge for Parkview this season. He also has plenty of backcourt help. Junior Damarcus Mason is lightning quick at the point and understands how to create offense for others and himself (11 points, 4 assists, 4 steals vs. Rogers Heritage) and Dontae Taylor wasted no time making his presence felt. The 6-foot freshman scored 10 points and had five steals in the first game of his career, showing the ability to defend multiple positions… And then there’s Hillcrest. The Hornets had a roller coaster first-year under Joel Brown but by the end of February were playing great basketball. The core of that team is back and Brown continues to develop his young talent which has Hillcrest poised to make a run. Senior guard Shahn Clark has excellent court vision and an improved jumper and sophomore Tyem Freeman could be the next major Springfield recruit. At 6-foot-4 with a diverse skillset and monster athleticism he can give opponents headaches. Hillcrest opens with Raytown and will see the either St. Joseph Lafayette or Nixa on the second night, giving Clark and Freeman the perfect stage to create a name.
53rd Republic Invitational
Semifinals: Dec. 2 at 7pm and 8:30pm
Championship: Dec. 3 at 3:30pm
They don’t even bother seeding this thing formally, but it is typically one of the best events in the Ozarks (not to mention one of the best hospitality rooms you’ll find). If you like guard play then this will be right in your wheelhouse. The semifinals should see Ozark vs. Rogersville and Rolla vs. Republic on Friday night, meaning Ozark junior Quinn Nelson will look to build on a stellar sophomore season (9.7 PPG, 66 3’s) against the steady backcourt of senior guards Matt “Choppy” McHenry and Drew Ritter. On the other side host Republic will be led by senior guard trio Treydon Rackley (13.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG), Mitchell Coiner (8.5 PPG) and Ty Stevens. Coiner is one of the best shooters around and Stevens is the ultimate glue player. Rolla lost a ton of firepower from last year, but the Bulldogs do bring back 6-foot-5 junior Nick Janke. Janke will have to help offset the production voided by a loaded senior class; he will likely be one of the top scorers in the Ozark Conference. The final four of this tournament will be worth the price of admission.
83rd Clever Tournament
Semifinals: Dec. 2 at 6pm and 7:30pm
Championship: Dec. 3 at 5:30pm
This is one of the longest-running tournaments in the Ozarks and this might be one of the toughest fields they’ve had. You have the defending Class 2 state champion (Hartville), a Class 3 Elite Eight team (Fair Grove) and a Class 2 Elite Eight team in Purdy. Clever and McAuley won 22 games last year, Marion C. Early won won 19 and Sparta had 18 wins. Right now there are four teams in their respective state polls and you can make a case that this is the best small-school tournament in the area this year. And – if you’re looking for starpower – then this is your place. Clever is the No. 1 seed and offer one of the Ozarks’ top scorers in 6-foot-6 senior Jakob Partee (19.8 PPG, 7 RPG). I would put Partee in that Jared Ridder class of scorer because of his ability to score at all three levels, coupled with his frame. He also has a point guard – 6-foot junior Devan Hampton (7.5 PPG, 3.5 APG) – that is poised for a breakout season. Fair Grove has the No. 2 seed and the Eagles could be the most talented team in Class 3 locally. Garrett Kesterson (20 PPG, 5.8 RPG) enters the season just 107 3’s away from the state career record. Keep in mind this is a kid that hit 102 last year at a 44% clip. With Kyle Cavanaugh moving on, Kesterson will get as many shots as he can handle this year. Tim Brown also has one of the best frontlines in the area regardless of class in 6-foot-7 senior Evan Fullerton (9.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.4 BPG) and 6-foot-6 junior Steven Huskey (7.9 PPG, 6.7 RPG) are athletic and rangy. Hartville won’t have much size, but the Eagles return senior guards Dune Piper (10.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 6.7 APG and 4.5 SPG) and Deric Jones (16.3 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 2.4 SPG). Piper is the best on-ball defender in the area and one of the better penetrate and pitch guards in Missouri. Jones is just 6-foot-1, but can defend 1-5 and has an abundance of athleticism. Sleeper college prospect on this team will be junior Wyatt Ward. He’s the son of a pair of coaches and his older brother was a scoring machine. Wyatt is thin, but at 6-foot-2 is long and has flashed the ability to be solid on both ends of the floor. The last two guys you’ll want to see in this field are a pair of senior floor generals in Landon Davis (Sparta) and Brendyn Taylor (McAuley). They do it in completely different ways, but both are excellent at what they do. Davis was a scoring machine last year (18.6 PPG, 4.8 APG), progressing his game from a catch-and-shoot guard to someone that can create off the bounce for himself and others. Taylor – last year’s Ozark 7 Player of the Year – is an old-school point guard. The 6-foot senior led the Warriors at both ends of the floor and excels in transition, part of the reason he averaged 7 APG last year to go along with a full line (9.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.3 SPG). Taylor also returns two of his favorite targets from last year in 6-foot-4 siblings Jake and Tommy Doyle. Jake, a junior, averaged 17.1 PPG and 7.6 RPG and Tommy, a senior, chipped in 11.9 PPG and 6.6 RPG.
56th Forsyth Tournament
Semifinals: Dec. 2 at 6pm and 7:30pm
Championship: Dec. 3 at 8:30pm
This event won’t have the same top-end talent as some other tournaments, but there are still several great storylines. First, can Class 1 Walnut Grove win a tournament with Class 3 and 4 programs? The Tigers are the reigning Class 1 runner-up, but lost all-state guard Dallas Meinders to graduation. Juniors Logan Thomazin (24 PPG, 139 3’s) and Hunter Gilkey form one of the best backcourts in the area and Coach Darin Meinders is one of the best in the business. Walnut Grove’s depth and full-court pressure will be tested by seniors Joel Gertson (Reeds Spring G – 10.1 PPG, 5.1 APG) and Micaiah Rocha (Forsyth G/F – 11.6 PPG, 7.4 RPG). Class 4 West Plains will also be a team to keep an eye on.
Pierce City Invitational
Semifinals: Dec.1 at 6pm and 7:30pm
Championship: Dec. 3 at 2:30pm
Crane and Greenwood are the top two seeds here and if the seeds hold the championship will pit Greenwood standout Julius Walker against a solid Crane team led by Dalton Hayes. At 6-foot-4, Walker (25 PPG, 9 RPG) is one of the most imposing players in Class 2 because of his game and his frame. He has a collegiate Carmelo Anthony feel to his game, specifically the way he scores and how efficient he is. Hayes (14.5 PPG, 4.5 APG, 3.5 SPG) will be the next salty guard that Crane has churned out in the last decade. The 5-foot-11 senior is a little bigger than previous standouts Zach Chastain and Tud Gold. That frame and years to develop behind them could make him even more dangerous. Craig Campbell is also emerging as one of the best young coaches in the area, which only adds to Hayes’ development.
Thayer Tournament
Championship: Dec. 3 at 6:30pm
This is one of those whacky hybrid tournaments with part pool play and part bracket play. That’s not important, but what is important is the raw talent of the underclassmen. Host Thayer returns senior guard Zyman Langley (9.2 PPG, 5 APG), but its season will hinge on the development of 6-foot-4 sophomore Ayden Stone. His athleticism and skill can make him a tough cover. Similarly, rival MV-BT/Liberty will depend on the growth of 6-foot-8 junior Shalin Stout. Stout is a proven shot blocker, but the Eagles are hoping his footwork and skill continue to come around to make him a force on the offensive end as well. Willow Springs guard Bryce Duddridge (16.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG) is back and could be one of the top scorers in the SCA. Alton guard Caleb Steele is not an underclassman, but has been one of the best-kept secrets in the Ozarks. The Big Springs Conference Player of the Year went for 24 points and 11 rebounds in Alton’s opener, this after averaging 20.1 PPG, 9.2 RPG and 4.3 APG. At 6-foot-4 his ability to score and facilitate is a coach’s dream. This will be a chance to see him against comparable athletes.
Regular Season Games – Dec. 2
Mansfield at Ava
Who doesn’t like a good battle in the paint? Mansfield in No. 2 in the preseason MOBCA poll thanks in large part to 6-foot-9 sophomore Dylan Caruso (12.6 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 3.3 BPG). Caruso has limitless potential and is still developing into his frame. The fact that he opened the season with a 17-19-4 line in a win against Richland could be bad news for the rest of Class 2. On the other side Ava senior Anthony Rosas (13.1 PPG, 8.7 RPG) is looking to have a monster senior season under veteran head coach Mike Mallow. What better way for the 6-foot-5 forward to work his way onto some boards than a big night against Caruso?
Lebanon at Waynesville
On paper this game could seem underwhelming but this is a sneaky good matchup. Lebanon is looking to make a push in the Ozark Conference and Waynesville is looking to reload after losing five starters but both teams will be talented. For Lebanon and Adam Thornhill, this could be the season that kickstarts a new culture. The Jackets went 6-20 last season but bring back nearly everything, including senior guard Jack Ehrhardt (14.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG). The wildcard will be the play of freshman guard Quenton Shelton. The 6-foot freshman has already created a buzz in the Ozarks after lighting up junior highs for the last two years. Lebanon hosted a jamboree and Shelton did nothing but prove the hype is warranted. Chris Pilz is looking to reload at Waynesville after losing yet another talented senior class. David Adams Jr. will be the name to remember here. After years of battling Joe Johnson and Dwayne Morton, the athletic Adams Jr. will get a chance to step out of their shadow. Much like them, Adams Jr. is a compact guard that can beat you off the bounce and has a developing jumper. This game will tell us quite a bit about what to expect from each program.