Pay Attention: Under the Radar Teams

<p> As we enter the home stretch of the regular season, there are several teams around the state that are putting together strong campaigns without a lot of fanfare. Here are a few of those teams that have been putting in work throughout the year that deserve a little more attention. Plus, they are capable of making a little noise in the postseason.</p> <p>Warrensburg: The Tigers enter this week with a 15-2 record, which includes the championship of the Clinton Tournament. They have a senior dominated nucleus of players that have been playing together since they were in second and third grade. The Wildcats have good balance with 6'6" forward Luke Landwehr, who averages 15.2 points a game. Senior guard Luke Mackey averages 12 points and senior guard Peyton Long averages 11.8 points a game with 6'7" forward Zack Reed averaging 9.1 points. Guard Ejyah Sheridan completes the veteran starting unit.</p> <p>Fort Osage: The Indians have put together a strong 16-3 record, which include a championship of the William Jewell Tournament in the Nelson Division. They have a balanced squad led by 6'3" 2019 guard Ty Baker, a Missouri State football recruit who averages 12.8 points. Xavier Kahube, a 6'5" 2020 forward, averages 10.2 points and 6'2" 2019 guard Jared Larson averages 12.5 points.</p> <p>West Plains: The Zizzers are enjoying an outstanding season at 17-4, which includes a current share of first place standing in the Ozark Conference after a pair of victories over state ranked Kickapoo and Rolla last week. They are a pleasant turnaround story after a 10-16 record a year ago. They are led by 6'7" 2019 forward Jake Swope who is the team's top scorer and their is plenty of support from fellow 2019 teammates Taylor Harrison, 6'0" Clay Butler and Garrett Warren. </p> <p>Confluence Academy: The Titans started the season at 2-10, but they have been surging in the past month after adding some key players who became eligible at the semester. The big addition is 6'5" 2019 forward Tavon Graham, who is averaging 18.4 points a game. Lyndell Hunt, a 6'4" 2020 forward is averaging 15.6 points and 5'10" 2019 guard Tarrel Morris is averaging 16.8 points a game. Adding quickness to the backcourt is 5'8" 2020 point guard Devin Phillips. The Titans graduated eight players from last year's team that advanced to a Class 4 district finalist.</p> <p>Priory: The Rebels are currently 15-4 and in first place in the Metro League entering the week of action. They have an excellent young dynamic duo in 6'2" 2020 guard Charlie Ferrick and 6'8" 2021 forward Harrison Wilsmen. Ferrick is a dangerous scoring guard who is averaging 22 points a game while Wilmsen is averaging 14 points and nine rebounds a game. Forward Nick Kurz is a 6'5" Stretch 4 who is averaging 11 points and 6.9 rebounds a game.</p> <p>Hillsboro: The Hawks graduated do-it-all forward Gaven Pinkley from last year's district championship team, but they are still rolling at 17-4 with an opportunity to make some things happen in Class 4 once again. The new leader is 6'5" 2019 forward Michael Brewer, who is averaging 21 points and 11 rebounds a game. Hillsboro has a fine backcourt duo in 2019 shooter Ben Lampkins and 2020 point guard Mark Moore, who combine to average 27 points a game. The Hawks received some help from brothers Evan and Ethan Worley, who came over from Windsor at mid-season. The 6'7" Evan Worley is averaging 12 points a game.</p>