Conference Preview: Central Ozark Conference

Prep Hoops Missouri continues its preseason conference previews with a look at the Central Ozark Conference. It will be a very competitive race with teams such as Nixa, Republic, Willard and Carl Junction in the mix along with several others. <h4>The Starting Five</h4> [player_tooltip player_id="107017" first="Kaemyn" last="Bekemeier"] 5’9" Republic: A 2023 Missouri State commit who has been a dominant player since entering the lineup as a freshman. She earned All-State honors after averaging 20 points and eight rebounds a game as a sophomore. [player_tooltip player_id="107979" first="Macie" last="Conway"] 5’10" Nixa: A 2022 Rockhurst recruit who led the Eagles to a conference championship last season. She averaged 17 points and four rebounds a game as a junior. [player_tooltip player_id="170215" first="Destiny" last="Buerge"] 5’6" Carl Junction: A dynamic 2023 guard who was one of the top scorers in Southwest Missouri. She averaged 24 points, four rebounds, five assists and four steals a game as a sophomore. [player_tooltip player_id="107996" first="Brielle" last="Adamson"] 5’8" Willard: A 2022 standout who was an All-Conference selection last season. She averaged 14 points, two assists and two steals a game as a junior. [player_tooltip player_id="107968" first="Ali" last="Kamies"] 5’6" Nixa: A 2022 Rockhurst recruit who returns after averaging 11 points, three rebounds and three steals a game as a junior. &nbsp; <h4>Best of the Rest</h4> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="107993" first="Moriah" last="Putt"] 5’11" Ozark Rhi Gibbons 5’8" Nixa [player_tooltip player_id="107995" first="Lyla" last="Watson"] 5’8" Ozark Emma Floyd 6’0" Joplin Kenzie Robbins 5’9" Webb City Carolina Crawford 5’6" Willard [player_tooltip player_id="252303" first="Riley" last="Boggs"], Ozark Brooke Nice 5’6" Joplin Ella Hafer 6’0" Joplin Sophie Shannon 6’1" Carthage Chloe Grimm 5’3" Branson &nbsp; &nbsp; 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="324152" first="Kianna" last="Yates"] 5’4" Carthage Norah Clark 6’1" Nixa Kate Brownfield 5’9" Webb City Carolina Crawford 5’6" Willard Kaylin Washington 5’6" Willard Brynn Driver 5’6" Joplin Khloe Burk, Carl Junction Hali Shorter, Carl Junction Reagan McInturff 6’1" Neosho &nbsp; &nbsp; 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="255532" first="Kylie" last="Scott"] 6’1" Carl Junction Rylinn Finley 5’10" Republic &nbsp; &nbsp; 2025 Sami Mancini 6’5" Webb City