By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
South Iron’s real test was supposed to arrive this weekend in the name of Class 1 fourth-ranked Bell City. But the Panthers nearly suffered their first loss of the year last Saturday at the hands of Potosi (9-9).
South Iron, leading 44-41 going into the final period, avoided its first loss of the season by outscoring the upset-hungry Trojans 29-6 over the final eight minutes of action for a 73-47 triumph.
Potosi struggled early in the game by turning the ball over 10 times in the first period, and trailed 17-9 going into the second frame. But the Trojans had the upper hand over the middle two periods and outscored the second-ranked Panthers 32-27 to cut the deficit to three points.
The Class 2 Panthers were sparked by the outside shooting of Cody Smith, who drilled a pair of 3-pointers early in the final frame. Smith scored 17 points in the game by connecting on five 3-pointers. Will Sutton, who made his presence felt inside in the fourth period, scored 14 points for the Panthers.
Senior David Prater led all scorers for South Iron by pouring in 23 points and pulling down 12 rebounds in the 26-point win. Jake Coleman and Jordan Politte scored 17 and 14 points respectively to lead the way for Potosi.
The South Iron bench proved much deeper and more volatile than its counterparts after outscoring Potosi 30-2.
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), Bolivar (Class 4), Springfield Catholic (Class 3), McAuley Catholic (Class 2) and Rock Port (Class 1).
Missouri Boys Basketball Rankings
Top 10
1. St. Charles West (20-1) 3
2. Raytown (19-0) 2
3. Webster Groves (17-2) 4
4. Kickapoo (15-4) 1
5. Springfield Central (14-5) 7
6. Glendale (14-4) 6
7. McCluer North (14-4) 5
8. Rock Bridge (15-2) 8
9. Parkway South (19-1) 10
10. Waynesville (15-3)
Dropped Out: No. 9 Branson
Class 5
1. Raytown (19-0) 2
2. Webster Groves (17-2) 3
3. Kickapoo (15-4) 1
4. Springfield Central (14-5) 6
5. Glendale (14-4) 5
6. McCluer North (14-4) 4
7. Rock Bridge (15-2) 7
8. Parkway South (19-1) 8
9. Waynesville (15-3) -
10. Hazelwood Central (14-4)
Dropped Out: No. 9 Hillcrest, No. 10 Chaminade
Class 4
1. St. Charles West (20-1) 1
2. Branson (16-3) 2
3. Sikeston (13-3) 3
4. Webb City (15-4) 5
5. Carl Junction (13-4) 8
6. McCluer South (18-5) 6
7. St. Francis Borgia (17-3) 9
8. Logan-Rogersville (11-5) 7
9. Ruskin (14-5) 4
10. Republic (11-6) 10
Class 3
1. Hogan Prep (12-3) 1
2. Cardinal Ritter (12-3) 2
3. Lafayette County (12-6) 5
4. Willow Springs (13-3) 3
5. Maplewood-Richmond Heights (14-4) 4
6. Bowling Green (15-0) 9
7. Mount Vernon (12-7) 7
8. Charleston (10-7) 8
9. New Madrid County Central (7-3)
10. Highland (7-2)
Dropped Out: No. 6 Palmyra, No. 10 East Newton
Class 2
1. Clever (17-1) 1
2. South Iron (17-0) 2
3. Harrisburg (14-2) 3
4. Thayer (18-1) 4
5. Sacred Heart (5-0) 8
6. Wellington-Napoleon (13-2) 6
7. Marionville (11-3) 7
8. Concordia (12-2) 5
9. Hayti (15-3)) 9
10. Eskridge (11-7)
Dropped Out: No. 10 Sturgeon
Class 1
1. Scott County Central (14-2) 1
2. Newtown-Harris (16-0) 4
3. La Plata (13-0) 3
4. Bell City (13-2) 5
5. Glasgow (13-1) 6
6. Chadwick (13-0) 2
7. Eminence (11-4) 7
8. Lesterville (14-3) 9
9. Mound City (11-3) 8
10. Fair Play (3-0)
Dropped Out: No. 10 Pilot Grove
Missouri Girls Basketball Rankings
Top 10
1. Hickman Mills (16-0) 1
2. Incarnate Word Academy (18-3) 2
3. Blue Springs (16-2) 3
4. St. Joseph’s Academy (15-4) 6
5. Kickapoo (14-3) 4
6. Bolivar (15-2) 5
7. Hickman (13-5) 9
8. Rock Bridge (14-5) 7
9. McCluer South (17-3) 8
10. Marshfield (19-0)
Dropped Out: No. 10 Notre Dame de Sion
Class 5
1. Hickman Mills (16-0) 1
2. Incarnate Word Academy (18-3) 2
3. Blue Springs (16-2) 3
4. St. Joseph’s Academy (15-4) 5
5. Kickapoo (14-3) 4
6. Hickman (13-5) 7
7. Rock Bridge (14-5) 6
8. Fort Osage (14-4)
9. Nixa (14-5)
10. Ozark (15-3)
Dropped Out: No. 8 Raytown, No. 9 St. Theresa’s Academy, No. 10 Nixa
Class 4
1. Bolivar (15-2) 1
2. McCluer South (17-3) 2
3. Marshfield (19-0) 5
4. Platte County (16-1) 4
5. Republic (14-4) 6
6. Notre Dame de Sion (8-5) 3
7. St. Dominic (18-1) 7
8. Branson (12-5) 8
9. St. Joseph Benton (9-3) 9
10. West Plains (13-5) 10
Class 3
1. Springfield Catholic (13-5) 1
2. Blair Oaks (13-1) 2
3. South Shelby (15-1) 3
4. Mount Vernon (15-4) 4
5. North Callaway (15-1) 5
6. Palmyra (10-4) 8
7. Stockton (9-6) 6
8. Fair Grove (11-5) 9
9. Pembroke Hill (5-6) 7
10. Clark County (5-5)
Dropped Out: No. 10 Arcadia Valley
Class 2
1. McAuley Catholic (10-4) 1
2. Westran (7-0) 2
3. Osceola (14-0) 3
4. Penney (16-0) 4
5. Canton (6-2) 5
6. North Platte (7-0) 8
7. Smithton (9-0) 7
8. Early (3-2) 6
9. Crest Ridge (12-0) 10
10. Laquey (7-0)
Dropped Out: No. 9 Sparta
Class 1
1. Rock Port (5-0) -
2. Northeast (3-0) 1
3. Exeter (5-2) 4
4. Meadville (14-0) 2
5. New Franklin (4-0) 3
6. Delta (10-1) 5
7. Gilman City (8-1) 6
8. South Nodaway (2-0) 8
9. Silex (10-7) 7
10. Walnut Grove (2-2) 9
Dropped Out: No. 10 DeKalb
