By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
Last week's schedule featured a crucial stretch of games for Incarnate Word Academy in its quest for a Metro Women's Athletic Association White Division conference championship. Now, after dispatching both Nerinx Hall and St. Joseph's Academy, the Red Knights appear headed for that crown.
Incarnate Word knocked off St. Joseph's 45-35, then turned around three days later and belted the Markers 59-37. The Red Knights now stand 15-3 and 3-0 in the conference for a one-game advantage over Nerinx Hall (12-4, 2-1). The Angels are waiting in the wings at 11-4 and 2-2.
The Red Knights scored 18 straight points in the first period to take a 20-point lead over Nerinx Hall after the games first eight minutes. The Markers were held scoreless over the final five-and-a-half minutes of the opening frame. Turnovers were also an issue for Nerinx Hall in the opening period thanks to Incarnate Word's full-court pressure.
"All the things you can't do against (Incarnate Word) to be successful, we did tonight," Nerinx coach Mike Slater told the St. Louis Post Dispatch.
Kayla Person led all scorers for Incarnate Word with 15 points. Bianca Beck, Jami Kroll and Britteni Williams all scored nine points. Julie King led the way for the Markers with 11 points.
On the Move (Boys) - McCluer North's 86-58 win over Hazelwood East last weekend vaulted the Stars up five spots to fourth in this week's Class 5 rankings.With a 59-43 win over Jennings and a 51-46 triumph over Washington, St. Francis Borgia finds itself in the No. 5 slot of the Class 4 rankings after landing in the No. 9 slot last week.Sturgeon climbs into the rankings for the first time this season, at No. 5 in Class 2, following a 59-35 triumph over New Franklin.
Class Leaders (Boys) - Webster Groves (Class 5), St. Charles West (Class 4), Hogan Prep (Class 3), South Iron (Class 2), La Plata (Class 1).
Class Leaders (Girls) - Hickman Mills (Class 5), Bolivar (Class 4), Blair Oaks (Class 3), Westran (Class 2), Northeast-Cairo (Class 1).
Missouri Boys Basketball Rankings
Overall Top 10
1. St. Charles West (15-1) 1
2. Webster Groves (14-1) 2
3. Kickapoo (13-2) 4
4. Raytown (9-0) 3
5. McCluer North (10-1) 10
6. Hillcrest (4-0) 6
7. Oak Park (7-0) 5
8. Parkway South (15-0) 7
9. Chaminade (11-2) 9
10. Springfield Central (11-3) 8
Class 5
1. Webster Groves (14-1) 1
2. Kickapoo (13-2) 3
3. Raytown (9-0) 2
4. McCluer North (10-1) 9
5. Hillcrest (4-0) 5
6. Oak Park (7-0) 4
7. Parkway South (15-0) 6
8. Chaminade (11-2) 8
9. Springfield Central (11-3) 7
10. Glendale (6-2)
Dropped Out: No. 10 Rockhurst
Class 4
1. St. Charles West (15-1) 1
2. Branson (9-2) 4
3. Sikeston (11-2) 3
4. McCluer South (14-4) 2
5. St. Francis Borgia (14-3) 9
6. Logan-Rogersville (9-4) -
7. St. Joseph Benton (6-1) 8
8. Carl Junction (9-4) 7
9. Webb City (9-4) 6
10. Jennings (11-4) 5
Dropped Out: No. 10 Republic
Class 3
1. Hogan Prep (4-2) 2
2. Charleston (8-3) 1
3. Lafayette County (5-0) 3
4. Maplewood-Richmond Heights (10-3) 6
5. Cardinal Ritter (8-2) 5
6. Willow Springs (13-2) 4
7. Palmyra (9-2) 8
8. Scott City (8-1) 7
9. Bowling Green (8-0) -
10. Whitfield (5-6) -
Dropped Out: No. 9 East Newton, No. 10 Alton
Class 2
1. South Iron (13-0) 2
2. Clever (14-1) 3
3. Harrisburg (9-1) 4
4. Thayer (13-1) 1
5. Sturgeon (4-2) -
6. Concordia (4-0) 8
7. Marionville (5-3) 6
8. Hayti (12-2) 7
9. Sacred Heart (4-0) 10
10. Mansfield (9-4) 5
Dropped Out: No. 9 Eskridge
Class 1
1. La Plata (6-0) 1
2. Scott County Central (4-2) 4
3. Bell City (6-2) 5
4. Chadwick (8-0) 6
5. Newtown-Harris (7-0) 3
6. Glasgow (4-1) 2
7. Eminence (10-3) 8
8. Mound City (9-1) -
9. Northeast Nodaway (8-1) 7
10. Lesterville (10-2) -
Dropped Out: No. 9 Brashear, No. 10 Dora
Missouri Girls Basketball Rankings
Overall Top 10
1. Hickman Mills (13-0) 1
2. Incarnate Word Academy (14-3) 2
3. Blue Springs (14-2) 3
4. Kickapoo (6-1) 4
5. Bolivar (8-1) 6
6. St. Joseph's Academy (11-4) 5
7. Rock Bridge (10-4) 8
8. McCluer South (11-2) 7
9. Hickman (9-5) -
10. Marshfield (3-0) 9
Dropped Out: No. 10 Platte County
Class 5
1. Hickman Mills (13-0) 1
2. Incarnate Word Academy (14-3) 2
3. Blue Springs (14-2) 3
4. Kickapoo (6-1) 4
5. St. Joseph's Academy (11-4) 5
6. Rock Bridge (10-4) 6
7. Hickman (9-5) 8
8. Raytown (9-1) 7
9. Fort Osage (9-2) 10
10. St. Theresa's Academy (6-3) 9
Class 4
1. Bolivar (8-1) 1
2. McCluer South (11-2) 2
3. Marshfield (3-0) 3
4. Platte County (12-0) 4
5. Notre Dame de Sion (6-3) 6
6. St. Dominic (13-0) 5
7. Republic (4-0) 7
8. St. Joseph Benton (8-2) 9
9. Branson (4-1) 8
10. Jennings (13-1) 10
Class 3
1. Blair Oaks (9-0) 3
2. Springfield Catholic (11-0) 1
3. South Shelby (10-1) 2
4. North Callaway (10-1) 5
5. Mount Vernon (13-6) 4
6. Fair Grove (7-3) 6
7. Palmyra (6-4) 8
8. Hermann (9-3) -
9. Pembroke Hill (3-2) 10
10. Boonville (7-1) 7
Dropped Out: No. 9 Stockton
Class 2
1. Westran (4-0) 3
2. McAuley Catholic (10-4) 1
3. Penney (11-0) 5
4. Osceola (10-1) 2
5. Canton (5-2) 6
6. Clopton (7-3) 8
7. Sparta (9-2) 4
8. Smithton (5-0) 9
9. Crest Ridge (8-0) -
10. Couch (10-1)
Dropped Out: No. 7 Miller, No. 10 Fordland
Class 1
1. Northeast-Cairo (2-0) 2
2. New Franklin (3-0) 1
3. Meadville (9-0) 3
4. Rock Port (3-0) 6
5. Delta (10-1) 5
6. Exeter (3-2) 4
7. Silex (8-5) -
8. Walnut Grove (2-2) -
9. South Nodaway (1-0) 7
10. DeKalb (2-0) -
Dropped Out: No. 8 Scott County Central, No. 9 Drexel, No. 10 Macks Creek
