By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
During last year's Class 3 state championship basketball game, Charleston reserves Antonio Riggens, Donald Dixon and Brian Parham combined for 14 minutes of playing time in a 66-48 win over Pembroke Hill. Now, a little less than a year later, that very trio has been thrust into more crucial roles after graduation deleted eight seniors from the 14-player roster from a year ago.
With 11 games under their belts in the 2007-08 season, Riggens, Dixon and Parham have Charleston playing at a high level again and find themselves in a familiar position atop the Class 3 basketball polls. MaxPreps' initial basketball poll of this season has the Bluejays in the top spot, as well.
Dixon and Parham flexed plenty of offensive muscle last weekend at the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament, and sent a message to all opponents that Charleston is still on top of its game.
The duo combined for 150 points in four tournament games. Dixon led the way with 82 points (20.5 points per game) in the four game set, with 30 and 28-point efforts in the second and third rounds, respectively. Parham contributed 68 points (17 per game) for the Bluejays, which included a 22-point performance on the opening night of the tournament.
Riggens joined the fun in day four by throwing in 21 points in a 63-46 third place consolation win over Central. The junior connected for five 3-pointers on the night. Deonte Jones hit twice from long range and Parham added another as the Bluejays scored 24 of their 63 points from beyond the arc. Jones finished with 10 points on the night. Parham scored 15 points and Dixon added nine in the 17-point triumph.
"It's a first for him, scoring all those points," Parham told the Southeast Missourian of Riggens' performance in the consolation game. "He normally doesn't look to shoot. He looks to pass. But when he shoots, he shoots."
The Bluejays started the season with six straight wins before dropping two of their last five games. Their losses are to Class 4 No. 6 St. Francis Borgia (65-63) and Cape Girardeau's Notre Dame (70-67) in the third round of last weekend's tournament.
MaxPreps Missouri Boys Basketball Rankings
Boys Top 10 (Regardless of Class)
Team (Record) Points For - Points Against
1. St. Charles West (10-1) 69.0 - 44.5
2. Webster Groves (10-1) 64.9 - 42.4
3. Raytown (8-0) 71.8 - 47.8
4. Kickapoo (10-2) 64.3 - 51.8
5. Rockhurst (7-1) 55.9 - 45.4
6. Oak Park (6-0) 56.7 - 40.5
7. Lafayette (2-1) 57.0 - 54.3
8. Hillcrest (3-0) 66.7 - 61.7
9. Springfield Central (8-2) 70.1 - 57.6
10. Chaminade (9-2) 67.5 - 56.8
Class 5
1. Webster Groves (10-1) 64.9 - 42.4
2. Raytown (8-0) 71.8 - 47.8
3. Kickapoo (10-2) 64.3 - 51.8
4. Rockhurst (7-1) 55.9 - 45.4
5. Oak Park (6-0) 56.7 - 40.5
6. Lafayette (2-1) 57.0 - 54.3
7. Hillcrest (3-0)66.7 - 61.7
8. Springfield Central (8-2) 70.1 - 57.6
9. Chaminade (9-2) 67.5 - 56.8
10. Parkway South (10-0) 63.4 - 44.7
Class 4
1. St. Charles West (10-1) 69.0 - 44.5
2. McCluer South (10-2) 60.0 - 47.6
3. Webb City (7-2) 62.0 - 54.0
4. Branson (6-1) 68.6 - 51.0
5. Jennings (9-3) 62.8 - 52.4
6. St. Francis Borgia (10-3) 57.7 - 49.7
7. St. Joseph Benton (4-1) 67.2 - 49.8
8. Sikeston (10-2) 71.5 - 56.4
9. O'Hara (5-2) 61.1 - 58.1
10. Logan-Rogersville (5-4) 57.9 - 48.9
Class 3
1. Charleston (9-2) 73.8 - 52.6
2. Linn (6-0) 60.5 - 42.3
3. Lafayette County (4-0) 55.5 - 29.5
4. Willow Springs (10-2) 65.8 - 54.6
5. Palmyra (7-1) 66.3 - 50.9
6. Hogan Prep (2-2) 57.3 - 61.0
7. Cardinal Ritter (6-2) 57.4 - 52.0
8. Scott City (6-1) 61.3 - 48.3
9. South Shelby (6-1) 85.1 - 54.3
10. Maplewood-Richmond Heights (7-3) 74.7 - 59.4
Class 2
1. Clever (10-0) 64.3 - 44.1
2. Thayer (12-0) 62.6 - 38.1
3. Harrisburg (6-0) 75.2 - 44.0
4. South Iron (11-0) 69.0 - 38.2
5. Mansfield (7-3) 52.6 - 40.9
6. Marionville (5-3) 53.4 - 42.5
7. Vienna (4-2) 60.0 - 56.2
8. Hayti (10-2) 71.8 - 56.3
9. West Platte (6-2) 64.9 - 53.5
10. Eskridge (5-5) 63.6 - 51.2
Class 1
1. La Plata (5-0) 59.8 - 33.6
2. Scott County Central (4-2) 82.2 - 59.0
3. Bell City (6-2) 69.6 - 56.9
4. Newtown-Harris (5-0) 73.0 - 38.6
5. Glasgow (3-0) 74.0 - 47.0
6. Chadwick (7-0) 78.0 - 43.0
7. Eminence (9-2) 65.0 - 50.5
8. Meadville (8-0) 63.0 - 46.3
9. Brashear (5-1) 57.5 - 45.3
10. Dora (8-3) 62.3 - 49.7
MaxPreps Missouri Girls Basketball Rankings
Girls Top 10 (Regardless of Class)
1. Hickman Mills (6-0) 66.8 - 31.5
2. Incarnate Word Academy (11-3) 54.7 - 37.3
3. Blue Springs (10-2) 63.4 - 41.6
4. Kickapoo (5-1) 49.2 - 42.0
5. Bolivar (9-1) 64.9 - 49.8
6. McCluer South (10-2) 68.4 - 39.1
7. Hickman (8-3) 58.6 - 48.4
8. Liberty (1-0) 56.0 - 31.0
9. St. Theresa's Academy (5-1) 54.2 - 41.0
10. St. Joseph's Academy (8-3) 56.9 - 46.1
Class 5
1. Hickman Mills (6-0) 66.8 - 31.5
2. Incarnate Word Academy (11-3) 54.7 - 37.3
3. Blue Springs (10-2) 63.4 - 41.6
4. Kickapoo (5-1) 49.2 - 42.0
5. Hickman (8-3) 58.6 - 48.4
6. Liberty (1-0) 56.0 - 31.0
7. St. Theresa's Academy (5-1) 54.2 - 41.0
8. St. Joseph's Academy (8-3) 56.9 - 46.1
9. Truman (6-0) 55.5 - 28.8
10. Raytown (7-1) 44.6 - 33.8
Class 4
1. Bolivar (9-1) 64.9 - 49.8
2. McCluer South (10-2) 68.4 - 39.1
3. Platte County (10-0) 59.0 - 30.2
4. St. Dominic (9-0) 60.0 - 32.9
5. Marshfield (3-0) 65.3 - 36.3
6. Notre Dame de Sion (4-2) 48.5 - 40.8
7. Republic (2-0) 67.0 - 40.5
8. Farmington (6-2) 54.5 - 42.0
9. Jennings (11-0) 61.3 - 42.2
10. West Plains (2-0) 56.0 - 37.0
Class 3
1. Springfield Catholic (9-0) 57.2 - 38.2
2. Blair Oaks (7-0) 61.4 - 29.0
3. South Shelby (7-0) 7-0) 61.4 - 33.0
4. Fair Grove (7-2) 63.6 - 53.0
5. Mount Vernon (7-2) 53.3 - 40.8
6. North Callaway (6-1) 54.9 - 41.4
7. Palmyra (5-3) 53.4 - 47.0
8. Metro (6-3) 52.6 - 37.6
9. Boonville (6-0) 55.8 - 39.2
10. Stockton (6-4) 55.0 - 45.2
Class 2
1. McAuley Catholic (10-4) 54.3 - 47.4
2. Osceola (6-0) 63.5 - 37.2
3. Westran (2-0) 54.0 - 32.5
4. Miller (10-1) 65.4 - 50.0
5. Fordland (7-2) 55.1 - 44.0
6. Penney (7-0) 61.7 - 25.7
7. Smithton (3-0) 54.3 - 32.0
8. Canton (3-2) 52.8 - 51.6
9. Purdy (6-3) 55.1 - 50.2
10. Crest Ridge (4-0) 60.8 - 35.0
Class 1
1. New Franklin (3-0) 56.0 - 29.7
2. Meadville (8-0) 58.3 - 26.8
3. Scott County Central (3-2) 64.8 - 59.0
4. Silex (5-4) 55.6 - 54.4
5. Cairo Northeast (1-0) 53.0 - 35.0
6. Delta (6-1) 50.6 - 34.1
7. Walnut Grove (1-2) 47.3 - 53.0
8. South Nodaway (1-0) 53.0 - 19.0
9. Exeter (2-2) 57.3 - 50.8
10. Bradleyville (4-2) 54.0 - 33.8