Games of the Week: Week 1

Here we are at week 1 of the Missouri high school basketball season! With plenty of adjustments to team schedules, there are more than enough protocols in place to allow these players to get this highly anticipated 20-21 season underway! Here is a look at some of the key games for week 1! <hr /> <em><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Belton 44 vs Grandview 41</span></em> In one of the first games to be played this season, we got to see four of PGH Missouri’s ranked players square off. Three players ranked in the 2021 class included [player_tooltip player_id="106862" first="Kyndal" last="Lewis"] (5th), [player_tooltip player_id="106905" first="Kennedy" last="Moss"] (78th), and [player_tooltip player_id="143698" first="Korinne" last="Moss"] (79th). Also featured was the 2022 standout [player_tooltip player_id="108032" first="Cierra" last="Smith"] (4th). The flow of the game was to be expected, sluggish to start as players tried to find their feel for the game. Belton went into halftime with a slim 22 - 17 lead behind Anna Shrum’s hot shooting from three against the zone. Cierra would get going late in the third against the zone and with her basket cut the lead to 4 at the end of the 3rd quarter. A Grandview three by Ciaira Martinez would cut the lead to one. Anna Shrum would finish with 25 with 5 threes and 6 for 6 from the line. [player_tooltip player_id="106862" first="Kyndal" last="Lewis"] had a solid 10pts and 13rebs. This would be as close as Grandview would get. As Belton holds on for the home win. <hr /> <em><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Webster Groves 61 vs Whitfield 58</span></em> As we take a look out east in the St. Louis area for this key early-season matchup. There was a ton of talent on display for this early season tilt. The early season match-up featured soon to be PGH 2022 13th ranked player [player_tooltip player_id="177088" first="Eliza" last="Maupin"] for Webster groves. For the loaded Whitfield squad, lead by 2023’s [player_tooltip player_id="107018" first="Tkiyah" last="Nelson"](8th), [player_tooltip player_id="107015" first="Brooklyn" last="Rhodes"](10th), [player_tooltip player_id="204490" first="Treazure" last="Jackson"](48th). Also 2021’s [player_tooltip player_id="168022" first="Kelsey" last="Blakemore"](19th) and 2024 fantastic freshman [player_tooltip player_id="194410" first="JaNyla" last="Bush"](2nd). Whitfield got off to a slow start falling into a 15 - 6 deficit. Webster Groves was locked in defensively to start the game getting defelections and steals. Ellie Paloucek was hot early hitting a couple of threes. [player_tooltip player_id="177088" first="Eliza" last="Maupin"] anchored the backline defense blocking shots early on and stepped out showing her range hitting a three. Webster Grove’s hot shooting would continue into the second quarter. But Whitfield would start getting their game going with a couple steals and scores from [player_tooltip player_id="107018" first="Tkiyah" last="Nelson"] and a three from [player_tooltip player_id="194410" first="JaNyla" last="Bush"] to cut the lead to 33 - 27 at the half. [player_tooltip player_id="107018" first="Tkiyah" last="Nelson"] and JaNyla would get things going for Whitfield each hitting a three. Both teams’ defense would tighten a bit in the third as it ends with both scoring 15 points. [player_tooltip player_id="204490" first="Treazure" last="Jackson"] would hit a three of her own but Webster Groves would hold a 6 point lead headed into the fourth quarter, 48 - 42. [player_tooltip player_id="234577" first="Ja’Mise" last="Bailey"] and Ellie Paloucek both contribute timely scoring and solid defense to help Webster Groves hold off a strong Whitfield run late. [player_tooltip player_id="107018" first="Tkiyah" last="Nelson"] lead the way for Whitfield with 16pts,  [player_tooltip player_id="168022" first="Kelsey" last="Blakemore"] added 12pts/6rebs, and [player_tooltip player_id="107015" first="Brooklyn" last="Rhodes"] chipped in 12pts/10rebs. Ellie Paloucek finshed with 19pts and [player_tooltip player_id="177088" first="Eliza" last="Maupin"] poured in 18pts/9rebs. Final 61 - 58 <hr /> &nbsp;