Preview: Class 3 Final Four
Prep Girls Hoops Missouri takes a look at the Class 3 Final Four, which will be held this weekend at the JQH Arena on the campus on Missouri State University in Springfield. Four-time defending state champion Strafford is back to…
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Continue ReadingPrep Girls Hoops Missouri takes a look at the Class 3 Final Four, which will be held this weekend at the JQH Arena on the campus on Missouri State University in Springfield. Four-time defending state champion Strafford is back to try to win a fifth state title in a row, but the competition is stiff. Here is a look at the Final Four teams along with our fearless predictions.
Friday, March 13
Licking (24-6) vs. Macon (23-5), 11 a.m. Licking it back in the Final Four for the second consecutive season. They are led by Three Rivers recruit Karlee Holland Karlee Holland 5'7" | PG Licking | 2020 State MO , who is averaging close to 20 points a game. Holland is surrounded by a group of good underclassmen, including 5’5″ 2022 guard Kylie Taylor Kylie Taylor 5'5" | CG Licking | 2022 State MO , 6’0″ 2022 forward Kiley Ingram, 5’8″ 2023 Maci Sparks and 5’9″ 2023 Kaida Cook along with 5’11″ 2020 Abagail Moncrief. Macon has a nice group of young players on hand, led by 5’8″ 2022 guard Lexi Miller Lexi Miller 5'8" | CG Macon | 2022 State MO who is averaging a team-high 17 points a game. 2021 forward Katelyn Hawkins averages 14 points a game while 2022 guard Shelby Petre and 2020 forward Katie Richardson both average 7.5 points a game. (Prediction: Licking)
Whitfield (26-5) vs. Strafford (28-3), 12:50 p.m. There is a new coach and several new players at Strafford, but the winning as continued as they are back to try a fifth consecutive state title. The new standouts on hand are 5’8″ 2020 Logan Jones Logan Jones 5'8" | PF Strafford | 2020 State MO , who has taken up the leadership role with support from 2022 guards Emma Mullings, Emma Compton and 5’10″ 2020 forward Taylor Dormann. Whitfield is making its third Final Four appearance in the past four years and the Warriors feature a talented and balanced unit, led by 5’9″ 2021 point guard Kelsey Blakemore, who averages 14 points a game. 2020 guard Jade Moore Jade Moore 5'6" | CG Whitfield | 2020 State MO is a 3-point shooter who averages 11 points while 6’1″ 2023 forward Brooklyn Rhodes Brooklyn Rhodes 6'0" | PF Whitfield | 2023 State MO averages a double-double. Another talented 2023 in the mix is 5’9″ guard Tkiyah Nelson Tkiyah Nelson 5'10" | CG Whitfield | 2023 State MO .(Prediction: Cardinal Ritter)
Saturday, March 14
Third Place, 12:50 p.m. (Stratford over Macon)
Championship Game, 2:40 p.m. (Cardinal Ritter over Licking)