Previews and Predictions: Class 4 Quarterfinals
Prep Hoops Missouri takes a look at the Class 4 state quarterfinals, which will all be held on Saturday at 1 p.m. The winners will be headed to Springfield next weekend for the Final Four of the state tournament. Here…
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Continue ReadingPrep Hoops Missouri takes a look at the Class 4 state quarterfinals, which will all be held on Saturday at 1 p.m. The winners will be headed to Springfield next weekend for the Final Four of the state tournament. Here is a look at those matchups with my fearless predictions:
Cape Girardeau Central (26-5) vs. St. Mary’s (16-12) at Farmington
Cape Central followed up its big victory over No. 1 Sikeston with a solid victory over Farmington in the sectionals. The Tigers are quick and they have multiple players who can create a play off the dribble and get buckets. Junior guard Doreante Tucker has really stepped up in the postseason as a weapon to compliment 6’2″ senior Kinyon Hodges, 6’0″ senior Chauncey Hughes and 5’8″ junior Tyrus Reddin. St. Mary’s is back in the state quarterfinals despite losing a huge senior class to graduation. They have rebuilt around senior point guard Yuri Collins, who has been on a scoring rampage during the postseason, getting about 35 points a night in the playoffs. Junior wing Sofara Rasas has emerged as a excellent scoring threat while sophomore guard Wunya Brown scored 16 points and made five 3-pointers in a big sectional win over Hillsboro. This game will be fast and furious.
Prediction: Cape Girardeau Central
Ladue (19-8) vs. St. Charles West (20-8) at Francis Howell Central
Ladue has managed to pull the great escape over and over to get to the state quarterfinals. They won both of their two district tournament games by one point, then survived an overtime contest against Jennings in the sectionals. Ladue’s calling card is its defense with its strong back line of 6’7″ senior Moses Okpala and 6’6″ junior Evan Schneider. Junior point guard Jaylen Boyd came up big with 16 points in the sectionals victory. When wings Bryce Bussard and Henry McIntosh are knocking down 3-pointers, the Rams are really hard to stop. Ladue’s defense will be tested by a talented St. Charles West backcourt in 6’3″ senior Trent Champagne and 5’10” senior Josh Anderson. Champagne is averaging 19 points a game and is a three-level scorer while Anderson can shoot the 3-pointer. Beefy sophomore John Wilson provides size in the post. Look for another close game down to the wire.
Prediction: Ladue
Sullivan (23-6) vs. Logan-Rogersville (23-5) at Waynesville
Logan Rogersville is back in the state quarterfinals for the second consecutive season after defeating Webb City in the sectionals. The Wildcats are paced by 6’5″ senior forward Luke Vandersnick, who is one of the top players in the Ozark Region. He had 27 points and 10 rebounds in the victory over Webb City. He can do a little bit of everything. Guard Ryker Strong added 13 points for the Wildcats. Sullivan advanced with a very solid victory over a very good Warrensburg team in the sectionals. The Eagles have a potent backcourt duo in seniors Cody McKinney and Landon Hoffman, who can both knock down the 3-pointer with regularity. McKinney scored a game-high 23 points in the victory over Warrensburg.
Prediction: Logan Rogersville
Grandview (23-5) vs. Southeast (24-6) at Independence
The defending champion Grandview Bulldogs pulled a great escape in its quest for another state championship. Grandview trailed conference rival 52-41 Raytown South 52-41 with over three minutes left in the game, but rallied to take a dramatic 55-53 victory. Their championship experience of guards Deandre Sorrells, Reggie Morris and a full court press turned the tide in favor of the Bulldogs. They will face a Southeast team that will not be as big as Grandview up front, but they have a nice group of athletes who can also play with tempo and force turnovers. It should be a very entertaining game with a lot on the line
Prediction: Grandview