SEMO Conference Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last winter, the SEMO Conference featured two state quarterfinalists in Cape Notre Dame (Class 5) and Jackson (Class 6). The Bulldogs proved themselves to be the top dogs, though, as they swept the conference by becoming the first team to win the tournament three times in a row and beat each team by an average of 21 points for the regular-season championship. Notre Dame is far and away my favorite to repeat as both tournament and regular-season champions with four future Division-I players on its roster. Jackson and Cape Central should finish in the top three outside of the Bulldogs due to their guard play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3>Preseason SEMO All-Conference First Team:</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["318365"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Outstanding track athlete and that more than shows on the basketball court with her head-turning speed. This makes her a fast-break score waiting to happen as she can also leave a number of defenders in her dust off one move. Aggressive defenders who creates many of her own opportunities by picking player's pockets. Decent passer who pushes the ball well to suit her fast pace of play.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["317351"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Going to be the point guard to be reckoned with for years to come. Runs the show with unbreakable poise and distributes crisp, timely passes while having top-notch court vision and ball handling skills. Going to arguably be the best 3-point shooter in Southeast Missouri with her range and accuracy. Also graceful pulling up from mid range and attacks the basket with ease due to her elite quickness and smooth moves. One of the best defenders in the state as she locks players down and is absolutely relentless yet very smart when going for the ball.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["317336"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Has everything it takes to bring home SEMO Conference Player of the Year as a freshman. Is usually the difference between a win or a loss due to her game-changing abilities in every aspect. Dominant 3-level scorer who has to be fouled if defenses want to stop her, but she will make teams pay with her clutch free-throw shooting. Head-turning athleticism as she usually makes two or three electrifying blocks per game while being able to cover a large portion of the floor. Elite in transition both offensively and defensively as she stands out pushing and driving with the ball or making no-look, bullet passes.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["193484"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003cstrongu003ePreseason SEMO Conference Player of the Year: u003c/strongu003eHas been filling the stat sheet night in, night out her entire career, but she's ready to become her team's leading scorer as her sister and 2022 graduate Lexi Rubel (last year's conference player of the year) is now at UT Martin. Without a doubt the best 3-level scorer in Southeast Missouri as she's one of the top 3-point and mid-range shooters in the state while being an enforcer when attacking the basket. Delivers rangy, bullet passes and pushes the ball effortlessly for quick, easy scores. Incredible transition player and deep threat as she can attack and deliver against multiple defenders. Smothers ball handlers, deflects passes and blocks shots with ease due to her pro-caliber athleticism and length.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["317551"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"She is without a doubt going to make a strong case for SEMO Conference Player of the Year. Already one of the top scorers in the conference and Southeast Missouri as she produces inside with confidence and can knock down shots from both mid range and beyond the arc. Very creative with the ball in her hands as she makes defenses pay if they give her any amount of room. Has significant range hitting 3-pointers and also gets in a rhythm hitting from outside. Opportunistic defender who can scoop and score with the best of them.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3>Preseason SEMO All-Conference Second Team:</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='170204' first='Madelyn' last='Eads']︱5'6"︱SG︱2023︱Poplar Bluff</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='392369' first='Anna' last='Garner']︱5'5"︱CG︱2023︱Cape Notre Dame</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='359118' first='Caitlin' last='Giles']︱5'10"︱SF︱2023︱Dexter</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='318364' first='Taylor' last='Horton']︱5'8"︱SG︱2023︱Cape Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='317348' first='Nevaeh' last='Lucious']︱6'2"︱C︱2026︱Cape Notre Dame</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3>Preseason SEMO All-Conference Honorable Mention:</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='356663' first='Emma' last='Dunning']︱5'6"︱SG︱2023︱Saxony Lutheran</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='318367' first='Jenna' last='Givens']︱5'4"︱SG︱2023︱Cape Notre Dame</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='325648' first='Holland' last='Guilliams']︱5'6"︱CG︱2024︱Jackson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='194532' first='Rebecca' last='Johnson'] ︱5'7"︱SG︱2024︱Saxony Lutheran</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Emani Summers︱5'8"︱SG︱2025︱New Madrid County Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->