Class 5 Sectionals: My Fearless Predictions

<p>Prep Hoops Missouri takes a look at the matchups of Tuesday night’s Class 5 sectional playoffs, along with our fearless predictions. All sectional games are scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m.</p> <p>North County at Sikeston: North County is making its first sectional appearance in more than two decades and the Raiders have a dynamic backcourt duo in [player_tooltip player_id="824156" first="Kyle" last="Conkright"] and [player_tooltip player_id="824201" first="Karter" last="Kekec"], who can both score. When it comes to getting buckets, Sikeston has one of the best in SEMO in 2021 Leroy Atkins, who scored 38 points the Bulldogs’ victory over Cape Notre Dame in the district championship game. (Prediction: North County)</p> <p>Borgia at Lutheran South: Host Lutheran South had a big fourth-quarter rally to surprise Vianney in the district championship game. The Lancers are led by the senior duo of 6’7" [player_tooltip player_id="824151" first="Jack" last="Lawson"] and 6’3" [player_tooltip player_id="986460" first="Jonathan" last="Prange"]. The Borgia Knights battled their way to a district title by defeating Pacific. They are led by 5’9" 2021 Max Myers and 6’3" 2023 Grant Schroeder. (Prediction: Lutheran South)</p> <p>Bolivar vs. Rolla (Site, TBA): Both teams survived overtime classics to get to the sectional rounds. Bolivar defeated Catholic in double-overtime while Rolla rallied to defeat Marshfield in overtime in their district championship game. Bolivar has one of the state’s top young players in 6’7" 2023 forward [player_tooltip player_id="1070084" first="Kyle" last="Pock"], who scored 32 in the district championship game. Rolla has an excellent 2021 player in 6’5" forward [player_tooltip player_id="824195" first="Trey" last="Brown"]. (Prediction: Bolivar)</p> <p>Logan-Rogersville at Nevada: This is a battle of two excellent teams from the Big 8 Conference that did not meet during the regular season. Host Nevada is led by 6’2" 2021 sharpshooter [player_tooltip player_id="824146" first="Logan" last="Applegate"], who scored 29 points in the district-championship game victory over Nevada. Rogersville has a dynamic combination in 6’7" 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="824130" first="Jonathan" last="Dunn"] and 6’3" [player_tooltip player_id="984417" first="Kanon" last="Gipson"]. (Prediction: Logan-Rogersville)</p> <p>Jennings at Cardinal Ritter: Both teams staged dramatic fourth-quarter rallies to win their district championship games in overtime. Visiting Jennings has a dynamic offensive player in 6’2" 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="824139" first="DeMarion" last="Shanklin"], who leads the St. Louis area in scoring. Cardinal Ritter gets offensive production from 6’3" 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="824116" first="Mario" last="Fleming"], 6’8" 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="984516" first="Robert" last="Lewis"] and 6’4" 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1045827" first="Braxton" last="Stacker"]. (Prediction: Cardinal Ritter)</p> <p>DeSmet vs. St. Dominic (Site, TBA): A very intriguing matchup between two teams with balanced offenses. DeSmet has a strong point guard in 6’3" 2022 Brian Taylor and a good big in 6’10" 2021 Sekou Gassaman. St. Dominic has one of the top combo forwards in St. Louis in 6’4" 240-pound [player_tooltip player_id="985425" first="Ryan" last="Schwendeman"] and a nice point guard in 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="824186" first="Brendan" last="Deters"].  (Prediction: DeSmet)</p> <p>Van Horn at Ruskin: Van Horn has plenty of speed and quickness on display with 6’0" Washburn recruit [player_tooltip player_id="994440" first="Jaden" last="Monday"] leading the way. He’s an explosive offensive player. Ruskin has battled back from a 1-9 start to win a conference and district championship. They have won eight of their last nine game. (Prediction: Van Horn)</p> <p>Mexico at Kearney: Host Kearney won the District 16 championship behind the offensive talents of 2021 guard Brennan Watkins, who was the leading scorer in the Kansas City area. Mexico has an excellent backcourt performer of its own in 2022 point guard Isaiah Reams, a crafty lefty. (Prediction: Kearney)</p>