Class 1 MSHSAA Final Four Standout Underclass Players
In this article:
The girls Class 1 final four at JQH in Springfield was competitive and exciting, with the most anticipated matchup being the Friday evening game between Walnut Grove, the two-time defending Class 1, and unbeaten Jefferson (Conception) – South Nodaway, a…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe girls Class 1 final four at JQH in Springfield was competitive and exciting, with the most anticipated matchup being the Friday evening game between Walnut Grove, the two-time defending Class 1, and unbeaten Jefferson (Conception) – South Nodaway, a team with players from the two different tiny schools in northwest Missouri. That team is also referred to as “Platte Valley”, but we will go with simply Jefferson… Jefferson was able to build a double digit lead, fend off a furious Walnut Grove comeback, and hang on for the win in that anticipated semi-final game. They would go on to defeat Leeton in the championship game 56-44, in a game that was closer than the final score indicated, to win the Class 1 championship. Leeton had defeated a very good South Iron team by 4 to get to the finals.
With the exception of the veteran Walnut Grove team, whose 3 best players are seniors Faith Gilkey Faith Gilkey 5'5" | PG Walnut Grove | 2021 State MO , Lauren Johnson Lauren Johnson 5'8" | SF Walnut Grove | 2021 State MO , and Makayla McBride, these teams were loaded with standout underclassmen with great potential and ability to play behind high school. Here are the top ones we saw during the Class 1 final four, in no particular order…
Bailey Fleming, Leeton 2023, G – Fleming was one of several standout young players we saw this weekend, and she took her game to another level during the final four. She was one of the best shooters from any team of any class this season and she was definitely hot at JQH this weekend. She scored 19 points in Leeton’s 47-43 win over South Iron and then scored 16 in the first half alone against eventual champ Jefferson to give her team the 29-26 halftime lead, making 4 3’s. She was well defended in the second half which was a big key to the Jefferson win, but Fleming definitely made a great impression this weekend. More than just a shooter, she can also get to the rim and finish well from either side with either hand and is also a good defender and ball handler. And she still has two more years left.
Madison Ayers Madison Ayers 5'8" | PG South Iron | 2023 State MO , South Iron 2023, G – Ayers is another standout soph who plays at a high varsity level beyond her age. She is a floor general who can do it all, and is most dangerous when attacking the rim off the dribble, adept at finishing and/or drawing the foul. She averaged 19 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds per game, a testament to her all around player. Her best physical assets are her speed and quickness and her court vision. At 5’7, she has good size and length for a guard and has a bright future.
Brylie Angle, Jefferson 2024, G – Angle’s season stats don’t jump out at anyone on a deep team that plays 10-12 players, but she made a big impression on us with her performance this weekend at JQH. First of all, she is 5’11 and is a perimeter player, in addition to being just a freshman, which bodes very well for her future development. Second of all, she can flat out get to the rim off the bounce and shoot the 3 ball very well. She played with poise beyond her years this weekend and has an extremely bright future with her physical makeup and repertoire of skills.
Maggie Collins, Jefferson 2024, F – Collins is another freshman from Jefferson who left quite an impression on us. She is a 6-footer with a strong inside game and she led Jefferson in scoring this season with 12 per game, on a very balanced team. Collins scored 11 in the win over Walnut Grove and then was perhaps the biggest reason why Jefferson won the state title game, with her 19 points, most coming in the second half when Jefferson was taking a small lead and fending off Leeton comebacks. Another player with a great future ahead of her.
Regan Shaffer Regan Shaffer SG Leeton | 2022 State MO , Leeton 2022, G – Shaffer impresses us with her all around ability and with how she plays bigger than her size. First of all, she is a great defender, one of the best we saw this weekend. Second of all, she has a knack for getting more rebounds than you’d expect given her 5’6 size and has a nose for the ball. She can handle the ball well too and is always a threat to penetrate and score or draw the foul. Right now, that is her primary means of scoring and as she develops her perimeter shot, it will only enhance her overall game. She led her team in scoring at 14.5 ppg during the regular season and while she did not score a lot this weekend, she is one of those players who makes a big impact on the games without gaudy scoring totals.
Enzley Dinkins, South Iron 2024, G – Dinkins is 5’6 but plays bigger than her size, a testament to that is her over 6 rebounds per game she averaged this season along with about 10 points per game. She scored 15 points to lead her team in the loss against Leeton, many coming from around the basket. She can also shoot the 3 and handle and defend well and is another player to keep an eye on.
Jaclyn Pappert Jaclyn Pappert 5'9" | PF Platte Valley | 2022 State MO , Jefferson, 2022, F – Pappert is a strong 6-footer who can score inside or out. She has a great 3 point shot and made many 3’s this weekend. She shot 39% on the season out there along with 8 points per game. Many of the 3’s she made this weekend came at crucial times in close games against both Walnut Grove and in the championship game against Leeton. Her size and shooting touch makes her a player worth watching going forward.