Bradley Beal, Otto Porter selected to play in all-star games

When Chaminade (St. Louis) senior Bradley Beal opened his letter with the official invitation to play in the 2011 McDonald's All-American high school basketball game, he was a little shocked.

It wasn't that Beal lacked confidence in his abilities. The bewilderment stemmed from the fact that he was about to live a lifelong dream. Ever since he started playing basketball as a youngster, the 6-foot-3-inch guard had set a goal to play in the national all-star game featuring the best players in the nation.

"It's such a blessing," Beal said earlier this week. "I was real excited and happy. It's been one of my goals for a long time. Ever since I became a basketball player, I wanted to be an all-american … to be one of the best in the class (nationally in 2011)."

Now that he's secured his spot on the roster, the future Florida Gator just wants to go out and have fun playing alongside and against America's best. Once he hits the floor at the United Center in Chicago March 30, Beal will be going up against many of the same athletes he encountered on the hard courts of the AAU circuit over the past four summers.

"Having fun is the purpose of the game," Beal said. "I'm going to play as hard as I can against all of those great athletes, but I'm going to have fun doing it."

Beal, who will be playing along side Duke signee Quinn Cook (Oak Hill Academy, Va.) on the East squad, is carrying a 32.6 points per game scoring average so far this season and is in position to surpass the 2,500-point milestone this weekend when the Red Devils travel to St. Louis University High.

"Quinn is a great guard," Beal said of Cook. "He sees the floor well and he can really shoot it. He is a true leader … a true point guard."

PORTER TO PLAY IN JORDAN BRAND CLASSIC
Scott County Central's Otto Porter has landed plenty of interest from some of the nation's elite programs. Now he will have the opportunity to display the skill set that drew their undivided attention in front of a national television audience when he takes the court at the Jordan Brand Classic high school basketball game April 16 in Charlotte, N.C.

The 6-9 senior has carried the Braves to the last two Missouri Class 1 state basketball championships. Scott County Central is 18-2 this season and is in position to win another title. Beal, the No. 5 player on MaxPreps' Top 100 Class of 2011 boys basketball players list, will join Porter on the West team in the contest.

NEOSHO QUALIFIES ALL 14 WRESTLERS TO STATE MEET
After breaking a school record by qualifying 13 of 14 grapplers to the Missouri Class 3 state wrestling meet a year ago, Jeremy Phillips' Neosho squad did one better in 2011.

The Wildcats qualified all 14 wrestlers to the state meet in Columbia this weekend while claiming their fourth straight district crown with a 303.5-169 margin of victory over second place Carthage at the Missouri Class 3, District 3 meet at Branson.

The last couple of district titles have been a little tougher to come by. But because the quality wrestlers were in the same district as the Wildcats, Phillips' grapplers were able to avoid a lot of tough draws right out of the gate at last season's state meet. Defending the 2010 title could be a little more taxing this weekend.

"When you have to compete in a tougher district it's easier to control your destiny (at the state meet)," Phillips said. "You won't necessarily meet up with the really good wrestlers early in your bracket. But, hey, if we're going to be champions we have to face and beat those guys at some point.

"We have high expectations here as a coaching staff and as a team. The guys work hard and put their time in. I have a great coaching staff and the kids believe in them."

Three out of five 2010 finalists are back to lead the Wildcats into this weekend's action, including top-ranked grapplers Nate Rodriguez (119 pounds) and Blake Stauffer (171). Rodriguez took home runner-up honors as a freshman at 103 pounds a year ago, while Stauffer, a junior, is the returning champion at 171.

Trevor Hughes was crowned champion at 119 pounds a year ago and he is the sixth-ranked wrestler at 125 pounds in 2011.

HLINAK BREAKS BULLDOG SCORING RECORD
Fort Zumwalt South (St. Peters) star Julie Hlinak became the school's all-time leading scorer last weekend when she connected on a free throw to open the scoring in the Bulldogs' 56-46 win over Duchesne.

The senior scored 30 points in the Gateway Athletic Conference win, improving her career point total to 1,213.

"It's just a culmination of all Julie's hard work and the effort she's put out, especially in the offseason," Fort Zumwalt South coach Mike Schneider told the St. Louis Post Dispatch. "It's really nice seeing her get that accomplishment. She's just a great kid."

KEELING REACHES 1,000 POINT MILESTONE
Madison senior Erica Keeling scored 15 points in leading the Panthers to a 45-34 win over Keytesville last week. En route to the win, Keeling reached the 1,000-point milestone for her high school basketball career.

LAST WEEK'S PREMIER MISSOURI BASKETBALL PERFORMANCES
BOYS
Jackson Conaway of Viburnum scored 30 points and dished out four assists, grabbed 13 rebounds and latched on to three steals in a 67-55 win over Bourbon … Tower Grove Christian's Ben Fiala ripped the cords for 62 points and hauled in 25 rebounds collectively in a 60-49 win over Collinsville Christian Academy (Ill.) and an 83-59 loss to the Christian Academy of Greater St. Louis … Timmy Powell of Miami scorched the nets for 22 points, while also dishing out 11 assists, grabbing six rebounds and stealing 11 enemy balls in an 81-46 win over Heartland … Fair Play's Tyler Weaver scored 36 points, dished out five assists and grabbed five rebounds in an 85-75 loss to Climax Springs … Joseph Reed of New Salem Baptist Church ripped the cords for 36 points, dished out three assists, blocked four shots, grabbed 23 boards and was credited with four steals in a 71-47 win over Quincy Christian School (Ill.) … Chaminade's Beal scorched the nets for 40 points, dished out six assists, ripped down six rebounds and grabbed four steals in a 76-58 win over McCluer North.

GIRLS
Hunter Yoakum of Dixon scored 35 points and grabbed six steals in an 85-54 win over Licking … Montrose's Morgan Eye ripped the cords for 49 points, dished out 17 assists, grabbed 25 rebounds and stole seven enemy balls collectively in wins over Hume (84-40) and Ballard (74-46) … Brittany Silas of Kansas City-Central scorched the nets for 38 points in a 67-50 loss to Ursuline Academy … Everton's Jessica Holland scored 34 points in a 70-64 loss to Humansville … Ashton Lutrull of Highland ripped the cords for 35 points and dished out three assists, grabbed eight rebounds and stole five enemy balls in a 55-36 win over Monroe City … Hurley's Cortney Conrad scorched the nets for 35 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a 65-36 win over Niangua … Courtney Cooley of Cairo scored 20 points, reeled in 19 rebounds and grabbed 12 steals in a 58-29 win over Brunswick.

MISSOURI BOYS BASKETBALL RANKINGS
TOP 10
1. Chaminade (23-0)
2. Hazelwood Central (Florissant) (22-1)
3. Sikeston (21-0)
4. DeSmet Jesuit (St. Louis) (19-5)
5. Nixa (18-5)
6. McCluer North (Florissant) (21-4)
7. Hillcrest (Springfield) (19-3)
8. Christian Brothers (St. Louis) (16-7)
9. Soldan International Studies (St. Louis) (15-6)
10. Raytown South (18-5)

CLASS 5
1. Chaminade (23-0)
2. Hazelwood Central (22-1)
3. De Smet Jesuit (19-5)
4. Nixa (18-5)
5. McCluer North (21-4)
6. Christian Brothers College (16-7)
7. Raytown South (18-5)
8. Webster Groves (19-4)
9. Rock Bridge (Columbia) (18-4)
10. Lee's Summit North (16-5)

CLASS 4
1. Sikeston (21-0)
2. Springfield-Hillcrest (19-3)
3. Soldan (15-6)
4. Mexico (20-1)
5. Logan-Rogersville (19-4)
6. Miller Career Academy (St. Louis) (18-6)
7. Platte County (Platte City) (16-5)
8. Helias (Jefferson City) (15-6)
9. Smithville (17-6)
10. Grandview (16-7)

CLASS 3
1. Penney (Hamilton) (19-1)
2. O'Hara (Kansas City) (17-4)
3. Cameron (20-2)
4. Cardinal Ritter (St. Louis) (16-4)
5. Hogan Prep Charter (Kansas City) (16-5)
6. Charleston (14-5)
7. Blair Oaks (Jefferson City) (17-3)
8. Kennett (18-4)
9. Strafford (16-3)
10. Lutheran North (St. Louis) (14-6)

CLASS 2
1. Wellington-Napoleon (17-1)
2. Salisbury (17-1)
3. Bernie (19-3)
4. Billings (17-2)
5. Sacred Heart (Sedalia) (17-1)
6. New Haven (18-2)
7. Sturgeon (16-2)
8. Archie (17-1)
9. DeKalb (17-3)
10. Linn (14-4)

CLASS 1
1. Scott County Central (Sikeston) (18-2)
2. La Plata (19-0)
3. Dadeville (19-1)
4. Summersville (16-3)
5. Climax Springs (16-1)
6. Jefferson (Conception Junction) (19-2)
7. Leopold (14-6)
8. Glasgow (15-3)
9. Oak Ridge (17-5)
10. Meadville (16-2)

MISSOURI GIRLS BASKETBALL RANKINGS
TOP 10
1. Webb City (20-2)
2. Blue Springs (20-2)
3. St. Joseph's Academy (St. Louis) (21-3)
4. Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis) (18-4)
5. St. Dominic (O'Fallon) (20-0)
6. Ozark (18-5)
7. Fort Zumwalt West (O'Fallon) (20-3)
8. Rock Bridge (Columbia) (18-5)
9. MICDS (St. Louis) (19-1)
10. Glendale (Springfield) (18-4)

CLASS 5
1. Webb City (20-2)
2. Blue Springs (20-2)
3. St. Joseph's Academy (21-3)
4. Incarnate Word Academy (18-4)
5. Ozark (18-5)
6. Fort Zumwalt West (20-3)
7. Columbia-Rock Bridge (18-5)
8. Springfield-Glendale (18-4)
9. Liberty (17-6)
10. Hazelwood Central (Florissant) (18-5)

CLASS 4
1. St. Dominic (20-0)
2. MICDS (19-1)
3. Miller Career Academy (St. Louis) (16-3)
4. Mexico (18-3)
5. Republic (15-6)
6. Smithville (19-4)
7. Platte County (Platte City) (15-7)
8. Farmington (15-5)
9. Visitation Academy (St. Louis) (16-5)
10. Bolivar (16-5)

CLASS 3
1. Penney (Hamilton) (20-0)
2. St. James (17-2)
3. Stockton (16-2)
4. Mt. Vernon (14-4)
5. Bishop LeBlond (St. Joseph) (16-3)
6. Maryville (15-3)
7. Hermann (16-5)
8. Macon (16-3)
9. Kennett (21-2)
10. Seymour (16-2)

CLASS 2
1. Harrisburg (15-3)
2. Purdy (16-5)
3. Meadow Heights (Patton) (16-3)
4. Couch (Myrtle) (17-3)
5. Fordland (18-2)
6. Clopton (Clarksville) (17-3)
7. Neelyville (17-2)
8. Orrick (15-3)
9. Richland (15-4)
10. Sturgeon (16-3)

CLASS 1
1. Montrose (17-0)
2. Jefferson (Festus) (19-2)
3. Marion County (Philadelphia) (18-0)
4. Mercer (20-0)
5. Southwest (Ludlow) (17-0)
6. Verona (14-5)
7. Weaubleau (16-3)
8. Walnut Grove (16-3)
9. Meadville (16-2)
10. Mound City (16-5)