Earl’s Top Five State Quarterfinals Matchups
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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…
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Continue ReadingThe 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: Neely Schaaf Neely Schaaf 5'9" | SG El Dorado Springs | 2025 State MO (‘25), Alexis Collins (‘25), McKinli Mays (‘26)
Lathrop: Kaitlyn Morgan (‘24), Keylie Beane (‘24), Jacie Kassanavoid (‘27)
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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: Addison Nichols Addison Nichols 5'6" | CG Delta | 2024 State MO (‘24), Presley Holweg Presley Holweg 5'5" | CG Delta | 2024 State MO (‘24), Jade Berry Jade Berry 5'5" | CG Delta | 2025 State MO (‘25)
Walnut Grove: Ellie Smith Ellie Smith 5'6" | PG Walnut Grove | 2025 State MO (‘25), Jace Gavisk (‘25)
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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: Ashton Bell Ashton Bell 5'9" | SG Fair Grove | 2025 State MO (‘25), Brooke Daniels Brooke Daniels 5'5" | PG Fair Grove | 2025 State MO (‘25), Abbey Green Abbey Green 5'11" | PF Fair Grove | 2025 State MO (‘25)
Fatima: Alli Robertson (‘24), Vivian Bax Vivian Bax 5'8" | PG Fatima | 2025 State MO (‘25)
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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: Morgan Ross Morgan Ross 5'11" | SG Centralia | 2024 State MO (‘24), Braylin Brunkhorst Braylin Brunkhorst 5'11" | SG Centralia | 2026 State MO (‘26), Ryenn Gordon Ryenn Gordon 5'7" | PG Centralia | 2027 State MO (‘27)
South Shelby: Belle Roush Belle Roush 5'9" | SF South Shelby | 2025 State MO (‘25), Callie McWilliams Callie McWilliams 5'7" | PG South Shelby | 2025 State MO (‘25)
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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: Korrie Holcer Korrie Holcer 5'6" | CG Meadville | 2024 State MO (‘24), Paige Carvajal Paige Carvajal 5'6" | SG Meadville | 2024 State MO (‘24), Madison Carvajal Madison Carvajal 5'7" | PG Meadville | 2026 State MO (‘26)
NE Cairo: Macie Harmon (‘25), Olivia Cross Olivia Cross 5'5" | CG Northeast (Cairo) | 2026 State MO (‘26), Avery Brumley Avery Brumley 5'7" | PG NE Cairo | 2025 State MO (‘25)
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