Previews and Predictions: Class 1 Sectionals
Prep Hoops Missouri takes a look at the eight games upcoming Class 1 Section Playoffs, which will be held on Tuesday night. We also have our predictions: Risco (23-5) vs. South Iron (22-4) at Bloomfield, 6 p.m. Risco staged…
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Continue ReadingPrep Hoops Missouri takes a look at the eight games upcoming Class 1 Section Playoffs, which will be held on Tuesday night. We also have our predictions:
Risco (23-5) vs. South Iron (22-4) at Bloomfield, 6 p.m.
Risco staged a great rally in the fourth quarter to defeat Scott County Central 62-60 in the District 1 championship game. Class of 2019 guard Nathan Burnett scored a game-high 36 points, including coast to coast layup at the buzzer to win the district title. The 5’10” Burnett has been a big bucket-getter for the Tigers for all four of his varsity seasons. Risco will face a South Iron team that is young and full of firepower. The Panthers are led by 6’2″ 2021 guard Brock Wakefield, 5’8″ 2022 guard Drenin Dinkins and 6’0″ 2022 guard D.J. Prater. (Prediction: South Iron).
Dora (27-1) vs. Chadwick (18-11) at Mountain Grove, 6 p.m.
The Dora Falcons advanced to the sectionals with a 64-59 victory over defending state champion Eminence in a big district championship showdown at Cabool. Standout 2021 guard Isaac Haney scored a game-high 38 points to lead the Falcons. He is one of the top bucket-getters in the state. Haney gets plenty of support from the sophomore trio of Auston Luna, Mason Luna and Bryson Luna, the 5’11” set of triplets. Chadwick is led by guard William Nalley, who scored 25 points and made five 3-pointers in a district championship victory over No. 1 seed halfway. (Prediction: Dora)
Golden City (19-8) vs. Lakeland (24-2) at Webb City, 6 p.m.
Golden City comes in the game as District 5 champions after its district championship victory over Lockwood. They feature a tremendous scoring guard in 5’10” 2020 Arlo Stump, who has already surpassed 2,000 points in his three-year career. Class of 2020 players Lane Dunlap and Chain Parrill also play key roles. They will face a strong Lakeland team that is back in the sectionals for the second consecutive year. Lakeland is paced by 6’3″ 2021 forward Rafe Kalberloh, who is averaging 17 points a game and 6’2″ 2010 forward Ryan Taylor, who averages 15 points. (Prediction: Lakeland).
St. Elizabeth (21-5) vs. Concordia (18-7) at Sedalia, 6 p.m.
St. Elizabeth features one of the top frontlines in Class 1 basketball, led by 6’7″ 2020 forward Ross Struemph, who is averaging 18 points a game. The Hornets also feature 6’5″ 2020 forward Nathan Heckemayer, who averages 12 points a game. Class of 2022 guard Brock Lucas had a productive first varsity campaign. Concordia also has solid size in 6’4″ 2019 forward Cameron Kelly and 6’4″ 2019 baseball standout Matthew Gatewood. (Prediction: St. Elizabeth)
Jamestown (15-12) vs. Wellsville (11-13) at Sturgeon, 6 p.m.
Despite losing several key players from last year’s district championship team, Jamestown rallied the troops and went back-to-back to return to the sectionals. They are led by the trio of 6’3″ Clark Rohrbach, 6’5″ Christian Snyder and Mackinley Sorrells. Wellsville entered district play with only nine victories, but came away with a championship with a victory over top-seeded North Shelby. They are led by guard Clayton Ebers, who scored 19 in the district finals. (Prediction: Jamestown)
Slater (21-5) vs. Linn County (13-7) at Chillicothe, 6 p.m.
Slater is back in the sectional playoffs after one of the most dramatic victories in this year’s district playoffs. They trailed top-seeded Meadville by 11 points with four minutes left in the Class 11 championship game, but rallied to win 53-51 at the buzzer. Guard Keegan Zdybel scored 19 points, including the buzzer beater to win the game. Linn County is led by guard Jase White, who can really attack the rim, and Chadley Waltz, who scored a game-high 17 points in a district championship victory over LaPlata. Linn County is pretty strong defensively. (Prediction: Linn Co)
Winston (25-0) vs. Pattonsburg (21-4) at St. Joseph’s, 3 p.m.
Perennial Class 1 power Winston is back in the sectionals with an undefeated record with its excellent collection of guards, led by 2019 standouts Jacob Lewis and Cy Uthe. They get plenty of support from fellow guards Brian Lewis and Jacob Uthe. Jacob Lewis scored 42 points in the Redbirds’ district-championship victory over Wellington-Napoleon. They will face a Pattonsburg team that they have already defeated twice by double digits during the regular season. Pattonsburg is led by 6’1″ 2019 guard Peyton Jones.. (Prediction: Winston).
Mound City (27-1) vs. Jefferson (24-4) at St. Joseph’s, 6:30 p.m.
These two excellent teams have staged three very good games with Mound City winning all three by a total of seven points. That’s how evenly matched these two teams are. Mound City features some strong young talent, led by 2022 Tony Osborn and 2021 Landon Popp. Jefferson is led by the trio of Clayton Merrigan, Steve Choir and 6’5″ 2020 Chase Farman. (Prediction: Mound City)