SEMO Showdown: Jackson vs Doniphan Top Five Stars

One of the biggest games in the state on Monday was a matchup between Jackson vs. Doniphan, which are the top two teams in the SEMO region. Host Jackson entered the game with a 15-0 record while Doniphan checked in with a 15-1 record.   Last year's contest was a barnburner as Jackson escaped with a two-point victory at Doniphan. The rematch was a different story as Jackson controlled the game from start to finish to take a 57-37 victory.   Here is a look at our Top Five Stars from Monday night's Jackson-Doniphan showdown.     NO. 1 STAR: [player_tooltip player_id='1092869' first='Lauren' last='Dorey'] (Jackson): The 6'2" 2028 forward was a force at both ends of the floor with a game-high 17 points and nine rebounds. She was hard to handle in the low post as she established position and scored with a nice shooting touch. She handled the ball well in the open court and dropped some nice dimes. She showed her mobility to scoring on a rim run in transition. She was also a presence on the defensive end as she used her height and length block shots and wall up on offensive players in the paint.     NO. 2 STAR: [player_tooltip player_id='905177' first='Kate' last='Deck'] (Jackson): The 5'8" 2028 guard scored 12 points while displaying her offensive bag. She set the tone on the first play of the game when she broke down a defender and knocked down a step-back 3-pointer. She followed up with a smooth pull up jumper off the glass. She has smooth handles and three-level scoring ability. She also played the passing lanes well to get a steal and a transition layup.     NO. 3 STAR: [player_tooltip player_id='849017' first='Carsyn' last='Hagood'] (Doniphan): The 5'9" 2027 guard scored a team-high 17 points for the Donettes. She's a knock down shooter from 3-point range, but she is also a very resourceful scorer in the lane. She knows how to get those tough buckets inside while also being able to draw fouls and get herself to the free throw line. She also moves well without the ball to get herself open against the tough defense that she was facing.     NO. 4 STAR: [player_tooltip player_id='884754' first='Addison' last='Henderson'] (Jackson): The 5'9" 2028 guard scored eight points and played an excellent all-around floor game. She impacts the game in multiple ways with her activity and tremendous motor. She was always looking to push the pace on the dribble. She is an excellent passer who finds open teammates on the move for easy baskets. She is also very disruptive on defense as she ball hawks on the run and jump. She times her rotations perfectly to get steals.     NO. 5 STAR: [player_tooltip player_id='885914' first='Makenna' last='Kirby'] (Doniphan): The 5'6" 2027 guard scored eight points, but I was impressed with how hard she played from the opening tip off to the final buzzer. She was attacking downhill on the drive, which resulted in a layup or a nice floater in the lane. She was constantly hustling for offensive rebounds and loose balls. She was also very active on the full court press. She seemed to be around the ball at all times.     ******   A Look at Some Talented 2029s in the Game   In addition to the Top Five Stars of the game, I was also impressed with a group of Class of 2029 players who are playing important roles on these very talented teams. Here are a few of those kiddos who caught our eye on Monday night.   [player_tooltip player_id='1690613' first='Bella' last='Monaghan'] (Doniphan): A 5'11" forward who has a solid game in the low post. The young lefty has good footwork and a nice shooting touch. She also played some very good post defense as she used her footwork to steal an entry pass.   [player_tooltip player_id='1261083' first='Adelyn' last='Abernathy'] (Jackson): A 5'11" forward who came off the bench to score six points. The young southpaw is strong on the drive, especially when she gets to her dominant left hand. She also moves in well to establish good weak side rebounding position.   [player_tooltip player_id='905752' first='Aubrey' last='Baker'] (Jackson): A young point guard who came off the bench to score five points, including a big 3-pointer in the first half. She is a solid ball handler and passer who plays a strong floor game.

One of the biggest games in the state on Monday was a matchup between Jackson vs. Doniphan, which are the top two teams in the SEMO region. Host Jackson entered the game with a 15-0 record while Doniphan checked in with a 15-1 record.