Class 3 Final Four Preview and Predictions
The Final Four of the Class 3 state tournament gets underway today at The Mizzou Arena on the campus of the University of Missouri. The field features four teams that can get up and down the floor and shoot the basketball. It should be an entertaining weekend. Here is a look at the matchups and our predictions:
Whitfield (21-9) vs. Hogan Prep (23-7), 6:40 p.m. – These two teams love to rip and run. Whitfield is bigger and more athletic, but Hogan Prep is smaller and quicker. Both love to employ the pressure and put the points on the board. The game also features two of the top 2108 performers in the state in 6’5″ Torrence Watson of Whitfield and 5’8″ Damien Daniels of Hogan Prep. (Prediction: Whitfield)
Northwest Academy (19-10) vs. Mountain Grove (28-2), 8:20 p.m. – Northwest is making its first appearance in the Final Four since 1971, when it was Northwest High. Mountain Grove is back in the show after finishing third in the state tournament last year. Northwest has quick guards and a good big man inside while Mountain Grove is a balanced team that is tough to defend. (Prediction: Mountain Grove)
Third-place game (Friday, March 10, 2:30 p.m.): Hogan Prep defeats Northwest in one of the most entertaining third-place games ever played.
Championship Game (Saturday, March 11, 2:40 p.m.): Whitfield takes its second state championship in school’s history with a hard-fought victory over Mountain Grove
Players to Watch
2017
Ryan Warren 5’7″ Northwest Academy
Brock Coffman 6’2″ Mountain Grove
Treye Collins 6’0″ Mountain Grove
2018
Torrence Watson 6’5″ Whitfield
Damien Daniels 5’8″ Hogan Prep
Jamarr Williams 6’6″ Northwest Academy
Wilshon Warren 6’2″ Northwest Academy
Cade Coffman 6’3″ Mountain Grove
Rashaan Collins 5’9″ Hogan Prep
Carter Otwell 6’2″ Mountain Grove
Rayonte Childs 5’10” Northwest Academy
Connor McNew 6’1″ Mountain Grove
2019
Cyrus Alexander 6’5″ Whitfield
Rondov Jennings 5’9″ Hogan Prep
Luther Taylor 6’4″ Whitfiel
Aurelio Stucco 6’2″ Whitfield