Championship Thursday Night (Predictions)

<p>Prep Hoops Missouri takes a look at the first night of Class 4 and 5 District championship games on Thursday night. Here is a preview of those games along with our fearless predictions:</p> <h3>Class 4</h3> <p>District 2: Park Hills Central (20-7) vs Hillsboro (22-5) at Park Hills Central, 7:30 p.m. - These two evenly matched teams split a pair of games this season with both teams winning at home. Park Hills is led by stellar 6’5" 2020 [player_tooltip player_id="580387" first="Breven" last="McMullen"]"] while Hillsboro has a balanced attack led by 2020 point guard Mark Moore and 2020 twins Evan and [player_tooltip player_id="822954" first="Ethan" last="Worley"] (Prediction: Park Hills Central)</p> <p>District 3: St. Mary’s (9-16) vs Gateway STEM (11-9) at St. Mary’s, 7 p.m. - St. Mary’s is back in the finals despite a losing record against a tough schedule. They are led by 2020 guard [player_tooltip player_id="822866" first="Sofara" last="Rasas"], who played a big role in the Dragons run to the state finals last season.. Gateway got into the finals on a dramatic buzzer beater by 2020 guard Kiante Cole in the semifinals against Windsor. (Prediction: St. Mary’s)</p> <p>District 4: Westminster (22-4) vs Priory (18-7) at Westminster, 7:30 p.m. - These two Metro League rivals are meeting for the third time with Westminster winning both games. Westminster has a nice inside-outside combination in 2020 forward Brennan Orf and 2022 guard Casen Lawrence. Priory has their own strong duo in 2020 guard Charlie Ferrick and 2021 forward [player_tooltip player_id="824138" first="Harrison" last="Wilmsen"].. Prediction: Westminster)</p> <p>District 6: Vashon (19-5) vs Hazelwood East (12-14), at Riverview Gardens, 4 p.m. - No. 1 ranked Vashon is back in Class 4 after winning the Class 3 state title last year. They are loaded with athleticism and experience led by 6’7" Kentucky recruit [player_tooltip player_id="580367" first="Cam’Ron" last="Fletcher"], 6’6" Georgetown recruit [player_tooltip player_id="789823" first="Kobe" last="Clark"] and 6’0" SEMO recruit [player_tooltip player_id="822850" first="Phillip" last="Russell"]. Hazelwood East will try to compete with its 3-point shooting. Their top perimeter threat is 6’4" 2020 guard [player_tooltip player_id="822931" first="Jordan" last="Gilmore"]. (Prediction: Vashon)</p> <p>District 8: Kirksville (20-5) vs. Fulton (15-10) at Mexico, 7:30 p.m. - Kirksville is led by versatile 2021 forward Noah Copeland, who scored 24 points in the Tigers victory over Hannibal in the district semifinals. Fulton has an exciting young player in 2023 guard Courtland Simmons, who scored 23 points in the Hornets’ semifinal victory over Mexico. Walker Gohring is another talented 2023 guard for the Hornets. (Prediction: Kirksville)</p> <p>District 10: Helias (19-5) vs Boonville (20-5) at Capital City, 7 p.m. - Helias has a strong group of offensive players, led by 6’2 2020 guard [player_tooltip player_id="822901" first="Marcus" last="Anthony"] Boonville is led by solid 6’5 2021 forward Charlie Bronskowski. (Prediction: Helias)</p> <p>District 13: Grandview (19-6) vs Ruskin (22-4) at Harrisonville, 7:15 p.m. - This is one of the top matchups in the state. Two-time state champion Grandview is led by 6’2 2020 guard [player_tooltip player_id="580383" first="Reggie" last="Morris"] and 6’7 2022 forward Taj Manning. Ruskin has enjoyed a big season with 6’6 2021 athlete Tavion Banks leading the way. (Prediction: Grandview)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Class 5</h3> <p>District 1 Poplar Bluff (9-15) vs Jackson (10-16) at Poplar Bluff, 7:30 p.m - These two SEMO Conference rivals have been battling in this district for many years. They have split the last two. (Prediction: Jackson)</p> <p>District 3: Eureka (20-7) vs Marquette (14-13) at Parkway South, 7:30 p.m. - This is a battle of two Rockwood District rivals. Defending champion Eureka is having another strong year while Marquette is coming off an overtime victory over Marquette in the semifinals. (Prediction: Euruka)</p> <p>District 5: Hazelwood Central (16-10) vs Hazelwood West (13-12) at Hazelwood Central, 5 p.m. - Top-seeded Hazelwood Central has a talented team that has been hitting its stride at the right time. (Prediction: Hazelwood Central)</p> <p>District 10: Ozark (17-10) vs Glendale (16-10) at Lebanon,  7:30 p.m. - Ozark features one of the top post players in SW Missouri in 6’5" 2020 forward A.J. Elliott along with versatile 2020 wing Along Riwa. Glendale counters with a talented young player in 6’4" 2022 wing Carter Harrell. (Prediction: Ozark)</p> <p>District 11: Kickapoo (17-9) vs Nixa (21-6), at Parkview, 7:30 p.m. - These two teams had an exciting district championship game last year which came down to an [player_tooltip player_id="583709" first="Anton" last="Brookshire"] shot at the buzzer for a Kickapoo victory. Expect another down to the wire contest. Prediction: Kickapoo)</p> <p>District 12: Joplin (20-5) vs Republic (20-7), at Carthage, 7:30 p.m. - Joplin has enjoyed an excellent season with its talented backcourt of Dakarai Allen and Always Wright with big contributions from football standouts Isaiah Davis and Zach Westmoreland. Republic has been led by excellent 2020 point guard Race Looney and 2021 guard Drew McMillin (Prediction: Joplin)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>