By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
Bolivar’s Casey Garrison displayed once again why she is considered to be one of the better players in Missouri earlier this week, while at the same time solid team balance has the Liberators (22-2) ranked second in the Class 4 rankings and in the midst of a 10-game winning streak.
Garrison topped her previous Central Ozark Conference best of 38 points – scored against Republic last year – by tallying 40 points against Nixa in a 61-47 win Wednesday. Garrison completed four three-point plays during the 14-point win and scored 15 of her game-high total in the fourth quarter.
The Liberators are more than just a one-player team, however. Just last week Bolivar needed a balanced attack to squeak out a 57-55 win over Republic. Garrison, Hayley Blair and Crystal Guiot all shared team-high scoring honors by chipping in 13 points a piece in the victory.
“There’s not someone you can lay off of,” Republic coach Kris Flood said. “You’ve got to cover all five players he puts on the floor, it’s not just (Casey) Garrison. Bolivar shot the ball extremely well in the first half, that’s the big difference. They were able to extend that lead out and make us have to use a lot of energy to come back.”
Garrison, who averages more than 26 points a game, isn’t just a scorer. The 5-foot-11 guard/forward averages 3.5 steals a game as well as 4.3 assists and nearly nine rebounds per outing.
Rachel Sawyer (12.2) and Hayley Blair (10.7) score in double figures as well. Andrea Porter and Crystal Guiot add six and four points, respectively.
Offensively, the Liberators take care of the ball. Bolivar turns the ball over an average of just 10 times a game, while at the same time the Liberators have produced over 300 assists so far this season.
Class Leaders (Boys) – Raytown (Class 5), St. Charles West (Class 4), Hogan Prep (Class 3), Clever (Class 2) and Scott County Central (Class 1).
Class Leaders (Girls) – Hickman Mills (Class 5), Marshfield (Class 4), South Shelby (Class 3), Westran (Class 2) and Rock Port (Class 1).
Missouri Boys Basketball Rankings
Top 10
1. Raytown (22-0) 1
2. St. Charles West (24-1) 2
3. Springfield Kickapoo (20-4) 3
4. Webster Groves (21-3) 4
5. Columbia Rock Bridge (21-2) 5
6. McCluer North (18-4) 6
7. Waynesville (18-5) 7
8. Springfield Central (16-6)
9. Branson (20-3)
10. Parkway South (22-2) 9
Dropped Out: No. 8 Glendale, No. 10 Hogan Prep
Class 5
1. Raytown (22-0) 1
2. Springfield Kickapoo (20-4) 2
3. Webster Groves (21-3) 3
4. Columbia Rock Bridge (21-2) 4
5. McCluer North (18-4) 5
6. Waynesville (18-5) 6
7. Springfield Central (16-6) 9
8. Parkway South (22-2) 8
9. DeSmet Jesuit (16-8)
10. Glendale (15-5) 7
Dropped Out: No. 10 Hazelwood Central
Class 4
1. St. Charles West (24-1) 1
2. Branson (20-3) 2
3. Sikeston (18-3) 3
4. Webb City (19-4) 4
5. Republic (15-6) 5
6. Carl Junction (14-4) 6
7. McCluer South (19-5) 9
8. St. Francis Borgia (18-5) 7
9. Logan-Rogersville (13-7) 10
10. Northeast Law and Public Service (12-5)
Dropped Out: No. 8 Ruskin
Class 3
1. Hogan Prep (15-4) 1
2. Cardinal Ritter (17-3) 2
3. Maplewood-Richmond Heights (18-4) 3
4. Lafayette County (12-6) 6
5. Willow Springs (19-4) 4
6. Charleston (12-7) 5
7. Mount Vernon (15-8) 7
8. East Newton (18-4)
9. St. Joseph Bishop LeBlond (10-5)
10. Bowling Green (21-0) 8
Dropped Out: No. 9 New Madrid County Central, No. 10 South Shelby
Class 2
1. Clever (21-2) 1
2. South Iron (21-1) 2
3. Harrisburg (18-3) 3
4. Thayer (23-1) 4
5. Wellington-Napoleon (18-2) 6
6. Marionville (13-3) 7
7. Concordia (17-3) 8
8. Sturgeon (17-4) 9
9. Barstow (17-3)
10. West Platte (16-6)
Dropped Out: No. 6 Salina Sacred Heart, No. 10 Hayti
Class 1
1. Scott County Central (19-2) 1
2. Bell City (20-2) 2
3. Newtown-Harris (21-0) 3
4. Glasgow (18-2) 4
5. La Plata (19-1) 5
6. Chadwick (15-4) 6
7. Eminence (13-4) 7
8. Lesterville (16-3) 9
9. Mound City (15-4) 10
10. Northeast Nodaway (14-5)
Dropped Out: No. 8 Fair Play
Missouri Girls Basketball Rankings
Top 10
1. Hickman Mills (22-0) 1
2. Incarnate Word Academy (22-3) 2
3. Blue Springs (21-2) 3
4. St. Joseph’s Academy (20-4) 4
5. Marshfield (23-0) 10
6. Bolivar (20-2) 6
7. Springfield Kickapoo (17-5) 5
8. Columbia Hickman (17-6) 8
9. McCluer South (18-3) 7
10. Columbia Rock Bridge (17-6) 9
Class 5
1. Hickman Mills (22-0) 1
2. Incarnate Word Academy (22-3) 2
3. Blue Springs (21-2) 3
4. St. Joseph’s Academy (20-4) 4
5. Springfield Kickapoo (17-5) 5
6. Columbia Hickman (17-6) 6
7. Columbia Rock Bridge (17-6) 7
8. Liberty (19-4)
9. Fort Osage (17-5) 8
10. Ozark (20-4) 10
Dropped Out: No. 9 Nixa
Class 4
1. Marshfield (23-0) 3
2. Bolivar (22-2) 1
3. McCluer South (18-3) 2
4. Notre Dame de Sion (10-5) 6
5. Platte County (19-2) 5
6. Republic (17-6) 4
7. St. Joseph Benton (18-3) 7
8. St. Dominic (20-1)
9. St. Francis Borgia (18-4) 9
10. Jennings (21-1)
Dropped Out: No. 10 Branson
Class 3
1. South Shelby (18-1) 3
2. Mount Vernon (14-5) 4
3. Springfield Catholic (14-5) 2
4. Blair Oaks (19-2) 1
5. Palmyra (11-5) 6
6. North Callaway (18-3) 5
7. Fair Grove (11-5) 9
8. Skyline (19-3)
9. Seneca (14-8)
10. Stockton (13-7)
Dropped Out: No. 7 Pembroke Hill, No. 8 Stockton, No. 10 Hermann
Class 2
1. Westran (19-0) 1
2. Penney (20-0) 3
3. McAuley Catholic (11-5) 2
4. Osceola (16-0) 4
5. Canton (19-2) 5
6. Smithton (20-1) 6
7. Crest Ridge (20-0) 8
8. Clopton (14-6)
9. North Platte (18-2) 7
10. Purdy (16-3)
Dropped Out: No. 9 Laquey, No. 10 Sparta
Class 1
1. Rock Port (20-3) 2
2. Northeast (16-3) 1
3. New Franklin (16-4) 3
4. Meadville (21-0) 4
5. Delta (19-1) 6
6. Gilman City (18-1) 7
7. Silex (10-7) 9
8. South Nodaway (13-5) 8
9. Mound City (15-4)
10. DeKalb (15-4)
Dropped Out: No. 5 Exeter, No. 7 Macks Creek, No. 10 Walnut Grove
