Clever Tournament Primer
SEEDS
1 – Springfield Catholic
2 – Walnut Grove
3 – Fair Grove
4 – Mount Vernon
5 – Clever
6 – Hartville
7 – Crane
8 – Aurora
TOP PLAYERS
2018 F Ian Cochran (6’7), Catholic
2019 G Charlie O’Reilly, Catholic
2019 G Jake Branham, Catholic
2018 F Matt Miller, Aurora
2018 F Cody Kelley (6’9), Hartville
2018 G/F Wyatt Ward, Hartville
2018 G Devan Hampton, Clever
2018 G Caleb Peck, Clever
2018 F Kyle Bushmann (6’8), Mount Vernon
2019 G Kelly Vaughn, Mount Vernon
2018 G Logan Thomazin, Walnut Grove
2018 G Hunter Gilkey, Walnut Grove
2020 G Cole Gilpin, Fair Grove
2018 F Colton Elder, Crane
2020 G Tyler Campbell, Crane
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Monday
Catholic vs. Aurora, 6 P.M.
Mount Vernon vs. Clever, 7:45 p.m.
Tuesday
Walnut Grove vs. Crane, 6 p.m.
Fair Grove vs. Hartville, 7:45 p.m.
Friday
Consolation Semifinal 1 (Seeds 1-4-5-8), 4 p.m.
Consolation Semifinal 2 (Seeds 2-3-6-7), 5:30 p.m.
Semifinal 1 (Seeds 1-4-5-8), 7 p.m.
Semifinal 2 (Seeds 2-3-6-7), 8:30 p.m.
Saturday
Seventh Place Game, 1 p.m.
Fifth Place Game, 2:30 p.m.
Third Place Game, 4 p.m.
Championship, 5:30 p.m.
BEST FIRST ROUND PAIRING: FAIR GROVE VS. HARTVILLE
The fact that this is an opening round game should tell you just how loaded this field is; this might be the deepest the tournament has been in its 84 years. Hartville is two years removed from winning a state championship and went to the Elite Eight last year. Fair Grove has made back-to-back Elite Eight runs, losing those two games by a combined six points. But, these two powerhouses were hit hard by graduation. Hartville looks to reload behind seniors Wyatt Ward and Cody Kelley, as well as a talented freshman class, while Fair Grove sophomores Cole Gilpin and David Oplotnik are now the go-to players for Fair Grove. Hartville is extremely motivated with all of the outside doubt, the Blue Eagles offer the tournament’s most likely first round upset. However, Fair Grove is still explosive enough offensively to win the entire tournament.
GAME(S) I MOST WANT TO SEE: CATHOLIC VS. MOUNT VERNON and WALNUT GROVE VS. FAIR GROVE
Both Catholic and Mount Vernon lost in the district championship last year and both are the favorite to win their respective district entering this season, which also means they’d meet in Sectionals. Catholic returns everyone and should be one of the best teams in Class 3 state-wide, which was apparent in their season-opening classic with Mountain Grove. Mount Vernon lost its two leading scorer but reloads behind a savvy point guard in junior Kelly Vaughn and 6-foot-8 senior Kyle Bushman. Bushman matchup up with 6-foot-7 senior Ian Cochran from Catholic makes this matchup intriguing, as does Vaughn’s matchup with Catholic’s outstanding backcourt. These two will see each other in a tournament setting, either this week or in March.
Walnut Grove vs. Fair Grove is a track meet that is always worth the price of admission. They’ve met for the last two Sparta Tournament championships with Fair Grove taking each meeting. Typically Walnut Grove wears down from a lack of depth, but with the Tigers returning everything this year’s meeting could be a little different. Tim Brown and the Eagles are adjusting to life without the Class of 2017, which keyed back-to-back Elite Eight runs. Sophomore Cole Gilpin is the future of the program, but Walnut Grove has an abundance of bodies to throw at him and the development of juniors Ryan Keith and Dawson Meinders will only make Logan Thomazin and Hunter Gilkey that much more difficult to defend.
PLAYER MATCHUP I WANT TO SEE: DEVAN HAMPTON VS. CHARLIE O’REILLY
If you love good guard play then you’ll love watching this game. Both guards were great last season, but seem to be on the verge of exploding after great offseasons. Hampton is a true point that is great attacking off the dribble and putting pressure on opposing defenses. He had 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals in the opener, which will likely be close to what he averages this season. O’Reilly is a shooter that is developing the ability to attack the rim as well. His ability to handle the ball and see the floor make him projectable as a combo guard. Both are competitive kids that would embrace the challenge of playing each other.
TOURNAMENT MVP: HUNTER GILKEY, WALNUT GROVE
I don’t necessarily think that Walnut Grove will win the tournament, but Gilkey will be in his element all three games. The senior point guard thrives in transition and nearly every game will be played against another team that wants to push the tempo. In his season opener Gilkey scored 24 points, which included 21 free throw attempts because the best way to stop him is to foul him. I remember watching Lonzo Ball average a triple-double at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in 2015, Gilkey approach those kind of numbers this week.
BREAKOUT PLAYER: COLE GILPIN, FAIR GROVE
Starting a freshman point guard is rare. Starting a 6-foot-3 point guard is even more rare. Starting a 6-foot-3 freshman point guard is like finding a unicorn, which is exactly what Tim Brown has in Gilpin. As a freshman he averaged 12.6 points and four assists for the Eagles, exceling as a facilitator. This year he will have to create for himself and others. Fair Grove scored 88 points in its opener, this offense is still potent even without all of the firepower lost from last season.
BREAKOUT PLAYER: KYLE BUSHMAN, MOUNT VERNON
At 6-foot-8, he’s one of the biggest players in the Ozarks. He’s still growing into his game, but his length and tools are impossible to ignore. He can finish above the rim and is a great rim protector. He reminds me of former Kansas standout Jeff Withey. Bushman is still coming around offensively, but his touch volume should increase significantly this season. When he avoids foul trouble he’s a handful at either end. This season will be his coming out party, this tournament will be the first thing that gets him on the map.
BREAKOUT PLAYER: RYAN KEITH, WALNUT GROVE
If he played for any other small school program in Missouri he’d be an all-stater. But, he plays with his school’s all-time leading scorer (Logan Thomazin) and one of the best player’s to ever wear a Walnut Grove uniform in Hunter Gilkey. With that being said, Keith still averaged 12.5 points as a sophomore, knocking down 106 3s at a 41 percent clip. He scored a smooth 15 in the season-opener and with all the attention Thomazin and Gilkey command, he – along with classmate Dawson Meinders – are due to have some monster games this season. He’s one of the best catch-and-shoot players in the Ozarks.
BREAKOUT PLAYER: CODY KELLEY, HARTVILLE
We’ve watched Hartville play fast for years and while they still utilize defensive pressure to create tempo and transition opportunities, Brett Reed has developed a sleeping giant (literally) in 6-foot-9 senior Cody Kelley. He’s a true center that wants to play with his back to the basket and has a great frame (240lbs). When he makes decisive moves he’s extremely difficult to stop. His side of the bracket doesn’t have many bigs, unlike the top half with Bushman and Cochran. This could be the time Kelley truly begins to come into his own.