Preview: Class 3 Final Four

Prep Girls Hoops Missouri takes a look at the Class 3 Final Four, which will be held this weekend at the JQH Arena on the campus on Missouri State University in Springfield. Four-time defending state champion Strafford is back to try to win a fifth state title in a row, but the competition is stiff. Here is a look at the Final Four teams along with our fearless predictions. <h4>Friday, March 13</h4> Licking (24-6) vs. Macon (23-5), 11 a.m. Licking it back in the Final Four for the second consecutive season. They are led by Three Rivers recruit [player_tooltip player_id="106822" first="Karlee" last="Holland"], who is averaging close to 20 points a game. Holland is surrounded by a group of good underclassmen, including 5’5" 2022 guard [player_tooltip player_id="107994" first="Kylie" last="Taylor"], 6’0" 2022 forward Kiley Ingram, 5’8" 2023 Maci Sparks and 5’9" 2023 Kaida Cook along with 5’11" 2020 Abagail Moncrief. Macon has a nice group of young players on hand, led by 5’8" 2022 guard [player_tooltip player_id="107983" first="Lexi" last="Miller"] who is averaging a team-high 17 points a game. 2021 forward Katelyn Hawkins averages 14 points a game while 2022 guard Shelby Petre and 2020 forward Katie Richardson both average 7.5 points a game.  (Prediction: Licking) &nbsp; Whitfield (26-5) vs. Strafford (28-3), 12:50 p.m. There is a new coach and several new players at Strafford, but the winning as continued as they are back to try a fifth consecutive state title.  The new standouts on hand are 5’8" 2020 [player_tooltip player_id="106835" first="Logan" last="Jones"], who has taken up the leadership role with support from 2022 guards Emma Mullings, Emma Compton and 5’10" 2020 forward Taylor Dormann. Whitfield is making its third Final Four appearance in the past four years and the Warriors feature a talented and balanced unit, led by 5’9" 2021 point guard Kelsey Blakemore, who averages 14 points a game. 2020 guard [player_tooltip player_id="106848" first="Jade" last="Moore"] is a 3-point shooter who averages 11 points while 6’1" 2023 forward [player_tooltip player_id="107015" first="Brooklyn" last="Rhodes"] averages a double-double. Another talented 2023 in the mix is 5’9" guard [player_tooltip player_id="107018" first="Tkiyah" last="Nelson"].(Prediction: Cardinal Ritter) &nbsp; <h4>Saturday, March 14</h4> Third Place, 12:50 p.m. (Stratford over Macon) Championship Game, 2:40 p.m. (Cardinal Ritter over Licking)