Earl’s Top Five State Quarterfinals Matchups

Earl&#8217;s Top Five State Quarterfinals Matchups

Earl Austin February 29, 2024 @ 12:15 PM

The MSHSAA state playoffs have reached the quarterfinals stage for schools at the Class 1,2 and 3 levels. The winners of this weekend's games will advance to the Final Four of the state tournament in Columbia at the University of Missouri from March 6-9. Of the 12 state quarterfinal games that will be played, here are my top five matchups around the state.   No. 1: El Dorado Springs at Lathrop (Class 3), Saturday, 6 p.m. - A tremendous matchup that features an El Dorado Springs team that has made two consecutive Final Four trips against a Lathrop team that is currently undefeated at 27-0.   Key Players   El Dorado Springs: [player_tooltip player_id='634027' first='Neely' last='Schaaf'] (‘25), [player_tooltip player_id='1020493' first='Alexis' last='Collins'] (‘25), [player_tooltip player_id='982957' first='McKinli' last='Mays'] (‘26)   Lathrop: Kaitlyn Morgan (‘24), Keylie Beane (‘24), Jacie Kassanavoid (‘27)   ******   No. 2: Walnut Grove at Delta (Class 1), Saturday, 6 p.m. - A strong matchup that features a SWMO small school power Walnut Grove against SEMO powerhouse Delta. Both programs have winning and championship DNA.   Key Players   Delta: [player_tooltip player_id='194533' first='Addison' last='Nichols'] (‘24), [player_tooltip player_id='194539' first='Presley' last='Holweg'] (‘24), [player_tooltip player_id='338659' first='Jade' last='Berry'] (‘25)   Walnut Grove: [player_tooltip player_id='424722' first='Ellie' last='Smith'] (‘25), Jace Gavisk (‘25)       ******     No. 3: Fatima at Fair Grove (Class 3), Saturday, 7 p.m. - Defending state champion Fair Grove will host an excellent Fatima team that comes down from Class 4. The two teams met at the beginning of the season with Fair Grove taking the victory.   Key Players:   Fair Grove: [player_tooltip player_id='627259' first='Ashton' last='Bell'] (‘25), [player_tooltip player_id='634025' first='Brooke' last='Daniels'] (‘25), [player_tooltip player_id='865999' first='Abbey' last='Green'] (‘25)   Fatima: Alli Robertson (‘24), [player_tooltip player_id='634037' first='Vivian' last='Bax'] (‘25)     ******     No. 4: South Shelby at Centralia (Class 3), Saturday, 6 p.m. - It's always special when two conference foes meet up with a Final Four berth on the line. These two teams carry on the great tradition of the Clarence Cannon Conference in girls basketball.   Key Players   Centralia: [player_tooltip player_id='252283' first='Morgan' last='Ross'] (‘24), [player_tooltip player_id='460885' first='Braylin' last='Brunkhorst'] (‘26), [player_tooltip player_id='803053' first='Ryenn' last='Gordon'] (‘27)   South Shelby: [player_tooltip player_id='424746' first='Belle' last='Roush'] (‘25), [player_tooltip player_id='865973' first='Callie' last='McWilliams'] (‘25)   ******     No. 5: NE Cairo at Meadville (Class 1), Saturday, 6 p.m.   Defending state champion Meadville enters the contest on a 59-game winning streak. NE Cairo is back in the state quarterfinals for the second consecutive year. They were in the Class 2 quarterfinals last year against eventual state champion Tipton.   Key Players   Meadville: [player_tooltip player_id='424372' first='Korrie' last='Holcer'] (‘24), [player_tooltip player_id='645074' first='Paige' last='Carvajal'] (‘24), [player_tooltip player_id='620693' first='Madison' last='Carvajal'] (‘26)   NE Cairo: Macie Harmon (‘25), [player_tooltip player_id='493486' first='Olivia' last='Cross'] (‘26), [player_tooltip player_id='870564' first='Avery' last='Brumley'] (‘25)   ******

The MSHSAA state playoffs have reached the quarterfinals stage for schools at the Class 1,2 and 3 levels. The winners of this weekend's games will advance to the Final Four of the state tournament in Columbia at the University of Missouri from March 6-9. Of the 12 state quarterfinal games that will be played, here are my top five matchups around the state.