Predicting tonight's boys sectional round
Scott County Central's boys are in. Delta's girls are in.
But the biggest questions about the sectional success of Southeast Missouri teams will be answered tonight when 12 teams from the area shoot for a spot in the quarterfinal round.
The most intriguing matchups are on the boys side, where two games pit local teams in head-to-head meetings. At Poplar Bluff, Doniphan and New Madrid County Central meet in Class 3, and just up the road at TRCC, Hayti and South Iron meet in Class 2.
Both sites feature similar matchups, but expect different outcomes. NMCC has developed into a disciplined team with confidence. Hayti hasn't been able to consistently get the most from its talent down the stretch, and it's been costly in key games. Tonight is one of those key games.
NMCC and Hayti might not even be the biggest physical tests for Doniphan or South Iron, but there's never been more pressure on any of those four teams than right now, and South Iron's spot at No. 1 in the Class 2 state poll adds to its expectations.
In Class 3 at Poplar Bluff: NMCC by 3 over Doniphan. In Class 2 at TRCC, South Iron by 6 over Hayti.
Also in Class 3, Crystal City coasted through its district to earn a spot against Maplewood coach Corey Frazier, a '94 Charleston alum, in a game at Jefferson College. The game pits Maplewood's blistering offense against Crystal City's stout defense, and both teams ride solid winning streaks. The winner gets another SEMO challenge with either NMCC or Doniphan on Saturday.
At Jefferson College: Maplewood by 10.
At Park Hills Central, Saxony Lutheran expected to face Wellston, but unlikely New Haven escaped from that district in an upset. Sure, this isn't the same Saxony team of the past, proven by its first-ever district championship last week. This version of the Crusaders has a sting, but on a statewide level, it's still the new kid on the block. At Park Hills: New Haven by 12.
Tonight's girls games have potential for a pair of surprises, but don't look for a shocker in the bunch. OK, maybe one.
In Class 3 at Jefferson College, defending state champ Metro has faced a season of large-school tests and, aside from a new nicks and scrapes, fared well. Arcadia Valley has had a season to remember and a lofty state ranking, but good things come to an end. At Jefferson College: Metro by 18.
Down the road at Park Hills, St. Vincent and Clopton meet in Class 2. We saw this same matchup a year ago when St. Vincent lost by more than 20 points. This time at Park Hills: Clopton by 16.
Two girls games feature matchups of local teams, both of them at Poplar Bluff. In Class 2 at TRCC: Naylor by 15 over Van Buren. In Class 3 at Poplar Bluff: Portageville by 5 over Greenville.
6 comments:
Good luck to Coach Corey Frazier's Maplewood team. Hope to see them in Farmington on Saturday against the SEMO representative.
I correctly predicted the Jackson and SCC results a few weeks ago, but not too sure bout how these will turn out. Hope SCC takes it all the way
wow right on with the nmcc score
Ealy is a beast. For a sophmore, 24 in a huge game shows signs of great thigns to come.
I heard he wanted to come to Sikeston after last year, but NM said they'd go crazy about it, saying its for athletic reasons. This coming from a good freind of Eealy. Man, Porter with Ealy along side of him would be fun. Hope NMCC and SC go all the way.
I doubt NMCC would have anything to say about it if he had went to Sikeston. Ealy was going to Portageville last year.
They'd bring out the recruiting card. They know how big of a part of the team that he is, and probably wouldnt let him go too easily
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