By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
Columbia-Rock Bridge’s recent slide paired with Grandview’s 21-game winning streak has forced a Class 5 boys rankings change.
The Bruins dropped to fifth falling behind new No. 1 Grandview, Lee’s Summit West (23-3), Hazelwood Central (23-3) and Springfield Central (23-3) in that order.
Springfield Central started the Bruin fall by knocking off the season long No. 1 66-65 on a last second shot in Columbia Feb. 10. Jefferson City Helias kept the late season swoon going with a 61-59 home win 10 days later.
In between those two losses, the Bruins (23-2) appeared to be in early season form posting wins over Kansas City-Central (78-42) and Truman (76-36).
But Grandview at this point in time looks like the team to beat in Missouri’s largest classification.
The Bulldogs (25-1), led by Colorado recruit Alec Burks’ 21.4 scoring average, have not lost since Dec. 13 when Park Hills South edged the Bulldogs 71-65 at the McDonald's Blue Springs Tournament.
During the Bulldog streak, Grandview has upended Hickman Mills and Raytown four times each and knocked off Kansas power St. Thomas Aquinas 59-49.
Burks isn’t the only firepower the Bulldogs possess. Seven other players average any where from 5.1 points per contest to second-leading scorer Ronnie Boggs’ 10.4 average. Eight players on the Bulldog roster have scored 112 points or more this season.
Grandview can put points up with the best teams in the state, averaging a very productive 79.6 points per game. Defensively the Bulldogs hold opponents to just over 57 points an outing.
Rock Bridge and Grandview entered Class 5 district championship contests Friday following first round wins over Holt (71-44) and Raytown (85-51) respectively earlier in the week.
The Bruins play Columbia-Hickman for the Class 5, District 9 championship Friday, Feb. 27 at Holt, while Grandview hosts Raytown South for the Class 5, District 13 title.
Below is a look at the latest Missouri boys and girls basketball rankings.
Missouri Boys Basketball Rankings
Class 5
1. Grandview (24-1) 2
2. Lee’s Summit West (23-3) 4
3. Hazelwood Central (23-3) 5
4. Springfield Central (23-3) 6
5. Columbia-Rock Bridge (23-2) 1
6. Webster Groves (22-4) 3
7. McCluer (22-4) 7
8. William Chrisman (17-9) 10
9. Chaminade (21-4) 8
10. Branson (24-2) 9
Class 4
1. St. Francis Borgia (22-3) 2
2. St. Charles West (23-3) 1
3. Moberly (21-3) 3
4. Aurora (24-1) 5
5. Sikeston (21-3) 6
6. Farmington (22-4) 4
7. Helias (19-5) 7
8. Hickman Mills (19-5) 8
9. Kansas City-Center (21-4) 9
10. St. Joseph-Lafayette (20-5) –
Class 3
1. Maplewood-Richmond Heights (23-3) 1
2. Palmyra (22-2) 3
3. Linn (18-4) 4
4. John Burroughs (18-4) 6
5. Hogan Prep (17-7) 8
6. Seneca (19-4) 5
7. Liberty-Mountain View (20-3) 2
8. Higginsville-Lafayette County (19-4) 7
9. Bowling Green (18-4) –
10. Mount Vernon (18-7) 9
Class 2
1. Santa Fe (22-2) 1
2. Harrisburg (19-4) 2
3. Laquey (22-2) 4
4. Bernie (19-3) 5
5. Saxony Lutheran (20-3) 6
6. Clever (19-5) 3
7. Penney (20-3) 8
8. Wellston-Eskridge (18-6) 9
9. Advance (19-5) 10
10. Thayer (20-3) –
Class 1
1. Jefferson (21-0) 1
2. Newtown-Harris (22-1) 2
3. Scott County Central (20-2) 3
4. St. Elizabeth (21-2) 4
5. Leopold (19-2) 5
6. Eminence (19-2) 6
7. Chadwick (21-4) 7
8. South Holt (20-3) 8
9. Glasgow (19-4) 9
10. Hale (22-2) 10
Missouri Girls Basketball Rankings
Class 5
1. Incarnate Word (25-2) 1
2. Hazelwood Central (21-2) 2
3. Springfield Kickapoo (21-3) 3
4. Blue Springs (23-2) 4
5. Nixa (22-2) 5
6. Columbia-Rock Bridge (21-4) 6
7. St. Joseph’s Academy (17-9) 7
8. Parkway South (23-3) 8
9. Parkway North (23-2) 9
10. Nerinx Hall (19-7) –
Class 4
1. Dexter (24-0) 1
2. St. Dominic (24-0) 2
3. Notre Dame de Sion (19-3) 3
4. St. James (24-1) 4
5. Platte County (22-2) 5
6. Sullivan (20-3) 6
7. Fulton (22-2) 9
8. Webb City (21-4) 7
9. Farmington (20-5) 8
10. St. Joseph-Benton (20-5) 10
Class 3
1. Macon (23-0) 1
2. Fair Grove (22-2) 2
3. Bowling Green (20-3) 3
4. Skyline (19-4) 4
5. Centralia (18-5) 5
6. Metro (15-10) 7
7. South Shelby (18-4) 8
8. Hermann (18-5) 9
9. Bishop LeBlond (19-4) 10
10. South Harrison (20-2) –
Class 2
1. Canton (22-1) 1
2. Sparta (22-0) 2
3. Osceola (21-1) 4
4. Portageville (22-2) 6
5. Couch (20-2) 3
6. Laquey (22-1) 7
7. North Platte (19-2) 5
8. New Franklin (22-1) 9
9. Sedalia Sacred Heart (21-1) –
10. Penney (19-4) 8
Class 1
1. Exeter (22-1) 2
2. South Nodaway (21-1) 3
3. Montrose (21-1) 1
4. Lesterville (19-3) 7
5. Delta (18-4) 9
6. Marion County (21-3) 4
7. Jefferson (18-3) 5
8. Leeton (18-3) 6
9. Hardin-Central (20-4) 8
10. Southwest-Livingston (19-2) –
