Preview: Class 5 Quarterfinals (Predictions)

<p>Prep Hoops Missouri takes a look at the Class 5 state quarterfinals, which will take place on Saturday. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and safety concerns, the games are still scheduled to go on, but only limited to essential personnel at the games. Some of the venues for the games have also been changed.</p> <p>There are some tremendous matchups on the docket for Saturday that will be hard to predict, but here we go. Here is a preview of those games along with our fearless predictions.</p> <p>Mehlville (22-5) vs. Chaminade (20-6) at Francis Howell Central, 1:45 p.m. - These two power teams have been on a collision course for this showdown for weeks. Both displayed their size, talent and depth in impressive sectional victories on Wednesday. Mehlville put four players in double figures in their victory over Jackson with 2020 guard King Waller scoring 21 points, [player_tooltip player_id="580372" first="Davion" last="Bradford"] and [player_tooltip player_id="822854" first="Lamontay" last="Daugherty"] scoring 14 each and [player_tooltip player_id="580373" first="Dylan" last="Branson"] scoring 12. Chaminade had a big victory over Marquette with 2022 guard Damien Mayo scoring 18 points, followed by 2022 forward Tarris Reed, Jr. with 14 points and 2020 [player_tooltip player_id="822848" first="Luke" last="Kasubke"] with 12. (Prediction: Chaminade)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Raymore-Peculiar (25-3) vs. Staley (22-6) at Blue Springs South, 2:45 p.m. - The two KC area teams survived close contests to advance to the quarterfinals. Ray-Pec edged a young Blue Springs team in the sectionals as 2020 forward [player_tooltip player_id="580422" first="Kian" last="Scroggins"] scored 13 points and 2020 guard Jordan Jermain sealed the victory with free throws down the stretch. Staley advanced with a 47-39 victory over Liberty and talented 2020 guard [player_tooltip player_id="822868" first="Byron" last="Alexander"] scored a game-high 22 points to lead the way. (Prediction: Staley)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>CBC (20-7) vs.Francis Howell (28-1) at Francis Howell Central, 7:45 p.m. - This is a rematch of last year’s exciting state semifinal game, which was won by CBC with a late rally. Both teams have a star player that they can lean on. The Cadets are led by 6’3" McDonald’s All-American [player_tooltip player_id="580366" first="Caleb" last="Love"], who scored 40 points in Wednesday’s sectional victory over Hazelwood Central. Howell is led by 6’5" 2020 forward [player_tooltip player_id="822883" first="Matt" last="Schark"], who has been a dominant player for the Vikings all season. The supporting casts for both team are full of talented underclassmen with CBC featuring 6’3" 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="824140" first="Chevalier" last="Brenson"] and 5’9" 2022 Rob Martin and Howell having 6’10" 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="583715" first="Sam" last="Thompson"] and 5’9" 2021 Preston Fortner. (Prediction: CBC)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Rock Bridge (24-3) vs. Kickapoo (19-9) at Southwest Baptist, 7:45 p.m. - This is another rematch from last year’s postseason as these two teams met in the state quarterfinals with Rock Bridge winning en route to winning the state title. Rock Bridge comes into the game on a 21-game winning streak, including dramatic victories over Battle in the district finals and a double-overtime victory over Ozark in the sectionals. The Bruins’ guard tandem of 5’9" 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="824128" first="Xavier" last="Sykes"] and 6’3" 2020 [player_tooltip player_id="822938" first="Brant" last="Bowers"]. Kickapoo defeated Joplin on Wednesday behind 30 points from 2021 guard Cameron Liggins and 15 points from 2021 standout [player_tooltip player_id="583709" first="Anton" last="Brookshire"]. (Prediction: Kickapoo)</p>