By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
Somehow Springfield Central has slipped through the cracks as far as the Missouri boys basketball rankings go. But not anymore.
Not after Springfield Central point guard Jerome Small stepped in front of Columbia-Rock Bridge big man Jordan Dressler and grabbed an offensive rebound following a missed 3-pointer by teammate Marquise Martin.
Small then flipped the ball into the basket as time expired and the celebration began following Central’s 66-65 upset over previously unbeaten Columbia-Rock Bridge.
“Not many people come in here and beat this team on their home court,” Springfield Central coach Eddie Thomas told the Columbia Daily Tribune. “We were just fortunate. The kids played hard. Even if we would have lost, hey, it was a great effort.”
Rock Bridge started fast, making its first eight shots of the game and taking an eight-point lead. But Small scored all 13 of his points in the second half to rally the Bulldogs from a 37-28 halftime deficit.
After Dressler was called for his third foul in the third quarter, the Bulldogs scored eight straight points, tying the game 46-46 going into the fourth quarter. The Bruins led 24-20 after the first quarter.
Thomas Chadwick tied Small as Springfield Central’s leading scorer at 13 points. Johnathan Gray and Martin added 10 points for the winners.
Jordan Dressler and Ricky Kreklow were the game’s leading scorers with 22 and 21 points respectively. Skylar Tolson chipped in 19 points for the Bruins.
The loss isn’t enough to bump the Bruins out of Class 5’s top spot. But the Bulldogs do move in to the Class 5 rankings for the first time at No. 5. As long as Springfield Central continues to win an upward trend will continue.
With Rock Bridge's loss to the Bulldogs, Class 1 leader Jefferson remains the only undefeated boys basketball team left in Missouri.
Listed below are the latest Missouri boys and girls basketball rankings.
Missouri Boys Basketball Rankings
Top 15
1. Columbia-Rock Bridge (21-1)
2. St. Charles West (21-2)
3. Grandview (19-1)
4. St. Francis Borgia (18-3)
5. Webster Groves (18-3)
6. Lee’s Summit West (18-3)
7. Springfield Central (22-2)
8. Hazelwood Central (20-3)
9. McCluer (18-4)
10. Chaminade (19-3)
11. Maplewood-Richmond Heights (19-3)
12. Branson (20-1)
13. William Chrisman (14-9)
14. McCluer North (17-4)
15. Moberly (17-3)
Class 5
1. Columbia-Rock Bridge (21-1) 1
2. Grandview (19-1) 2
3. Webster Groves (18-3) 3
4. Lee’s Summit West (18-3) 4
5. Springfield Central (22-2) –
6. Hazelwood Central (20-3) 5
7. McCluer (18-4) 7
8. Chaminade (19-3) 6
9. Branson (20-1) 9
10. William Chrisman (14-9) –
Class 4
1. St. Charles West (21-2) 1
2. St. Francis Borgia (18-3) 2
3. Moberly (17-3) 4
4. Farmington (18-3) 5
5. Aurora (19-1) 6
6. Sikeston (14-3) 3
7. Helias (14-5) 7
8. Hickman Mills (15-4) –
9. O’Hara (12-5) –
10. Kansas City-Center (17-4) 9
Class 3
1. Maplewood-Richmond Heights (19-3) 1
2. Blue Eye (17-1) 2
3. Liberty-Mountain View (16-1) 3
4. Palmyra (18-2) 5
5. Linn (15-4) 7
6. Seneca (16-3) 4
7. John Burroughs (14-4) 8
8. Hogan Prep (14-5) 6
9. Higginsville-Lafayette County (16-3) –
10. Cameron (15-4) 10
Class 2
1. Bernie (17-1) 1
2. Laquey (19-1) 2
3. Portageville (14-1) 3
4. Saxony Lutheran (16-2) 4
5. Santa Fe (18-2) 5
6. Wellston-Eskridge (15-5) 8
7. South Iron (17-1) 9
8. Harrisburg (14-4) 7
9. Clever (16-4) 6
10. Penney (16-3) –
Class 1
1. Jefferson (17-0) 1
2. Scott County Central (17-1) 2
3. Newtown-Harris (18-1) 3
4. Eminence (15-1) 4
5. St. Elizabeth (17-2) 5
6. Leopold (14-2) 6
7. Chadwick (16-4) 7
8. South Holt (17-3) 8
9. Glasgow (14-4) 9
10. Meadville (18-2) 10
Missouri Girls Basketball Rankings
Top 15
1. Incarnate Word (22-1)
2. Dexter (18-0)
3. St. Dominic (19-0)
4. Hazelwood Central (15-2)
5. Springfield Kickapoo (17-3)
6. Blue Springs (19-2)
7. Macon (18-0)
8. St. James (18-1)
9. Nixa (18-2)
10. Columbia-Rock Bridge (18-4)
11. Platte County (18-1)
12. St. Joseph’s Academy (13-8)
13. Webb City (18-2)
14. Parkway South (18-3)
15. Notre Dame de Sion (15-3)
Class 5
1. Incarnate Word (22-1) 1
2. Hazelwood Central (15-2) 2
3. Springfield Kickapoo (17-3) 3
4. Blue Springs (19-2) 4
5. Nixa (18-2) 6
6. Columbia-Rock Bridge (18-4) 5
7. St. Joseph’s Academy 913-8) 7
8. Parkway South (18-3) 8
9. Parkway North (17-2) 10
10. Neosho (17-4) –
Class 4
1. Dexter (18-0) 1
2. St. Dominic (19-0) 2
3. St. James (18-1) 3
4. Platte County (18-1) 4
5. Webb City (18-2) 6
6. Notre Dame de Sion (15-3) 7
7. Sullivan (16-3) 5
8. Farmington (16-4) 8
9. St. Joseph-Benton (17-4) 10
10. West Plains (15-4) 9
Class 3
1. Macon (18-0) 1
2. Fair Grove (17-2) 2
3. Bowling Green (17-3) 7
4. Kelly (14-2) 4
5. Skyline (15-4) 3
6. Centralia (15-4) 9
7. Metro (11-9) 10
8. South Harrison (17-2) 8
9. California (16-3) 6
10. South Shelby (13-4) 5
Class 2
1. Couch (18-0) 1
2. Canton (18-1) 2
3. Sparta (17-0) 3
4. Osceola (15-1) 4
5. North Platte (17-1) 5
6. Portageville (16-2) 6
7. Laquey (19-1) 7
8. Penney (16-3) 8
9. New Franklin (19-1) 10
10. Harrisburg (14-3) 9
Class 1
1. Montrose (17-0) 1
2. Exeter (17-1) 2
3. South Nodaway (17-1) 3
4. Marion County (16-2) 4
5. Jefferson (15-2) 5
6. Fairfax (15-2) 6
7. Southwest-Livingston (15-1) 8
8. Linn County (13-2) 9
9. Northeast Nodaway (17-3) 10
10. Leeton (14-2) –