Final Four Recap: Those Unsung Standouts

Prep Girls Hoops Missouri spent the weekend in Springfield for the MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown at Missouri State University. Today, we will take a look at some of the unsung standouts from the weekend. These role players were valuable to the success of their respective teams. Sydney Starks (John Burroughs): The 5’9" 2023 guard had a solid overall weekend in helping the Bombers to a Class 4 state title, which was the school’s first in girls’ basketball. She has good length and mobility to excel on the defensive end as she made some timely buckets, especially in the championship game against Benton when she scored 12 points. She hit a couple of nice pull up jumpers. Georgia Osborn (West Plains): The 5'6" 2023 guard entered the Final Four averaging 3.5 points a game. She was tremendous in the Lady Zizzers victory over Whitfield in the Class 5 state championship game as she scored 11 points and connected on three of five from 3-point range. Sometimes, a state-championship winning team needs someone unexpected to come with a big game. Georgia was that someone on Saturday. [player_tooltip player_id="267409" first="Violet" last="McNece"] (Incarnate Word): The 5’10" 2023 guard provided consistent perimeter shooting from 3-point range this season and she did the same over the weekend as she made four of her eight attempts in the two Final Four games. She scored 11 points and made three 3-pointers in the Red Knights victory over Kickapoo in the Class 6 state championship game. [player_tooltip player_id="204490" first="Treazure" last="Jackson"] (Whitfield): The athletic 5'10" 2023 wing player does a little bit of everything to help her team succeed. She has the height and length to guard multiple positions and she can create some offense with her slashing ability. She plays hard and she is always on the move and in position to make plays at both ends. Sophia Nittinger (Webster Groves): The 6'2" 2022 forward sometimes gets overlooked, but she has been an important cog to the Statesmen's success, which ended up in a third-place finish in Class 5. Her height and length are best utilized as a rebounder and shot blocker as she led the team in both categories. She has good mobility and she stays active around the basket. Brooke Turner (Kickapoo): The 5'10" 2022 forward is a tough lefty who was strong and productive throughout the weekend for the Class 6 runners-up Chiefs. She played a physical game and she didn't shy away from any contact. She had nine rebounds in the semifinals against Blue Springs South and followed up with 12 points and five rebounds against Incarnate Word in the state championship game.