By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
Jordan Dressler had the big game for Columbia Rock Bridge in Friday’s 66-64 win over Raytown South. But it was Skylar Tolson that made the big shot with one second remaining in regulation to secure the win and send the Bruins on an upward climb in the latest MaxPreps Missouri Boys Basketball Rankings.
Tolson’s heroics came into play when the Bruins tried to get the ball into Dressler on the games last inbounds play. South denied the 6-foot-8-center possession of the ball, and it bounced off of two Cardinal defenders on its way into the hands of the opportunistic Tolson, who secured the win with the basket.
“The ball just didn’t bounce our way,” Raytown South coach Brad Oestreich told the Kansas City Star.
Rock Bridge led 64-61 with 10 seconds left, but Tolson gave the Cardinals new life when he fouled Dominique Newton, while he was attempting a 3-pointer. Newton made all three foul shots to tie the game at 64-64, setting the stage for Tolson’s last second heads up play.
Tolson, who finished the game with nine points and seven assists, starred for Rock Bridge in the games final seconds on one monumental play. But it was Dressler and sophomore outside marksman Ricky Kreklow that dominated on the offensive end for Rock Bridge throughout the contest.
Dressler had a career performance against the Cardinals by scoring a career high 31 points and pulling down a career high 19 rebounds. While Dressler was dominating the game on the inside, Kreklow turned South’s world upside down by ripping the cords on four 3-pointers and scoring 20 points, while dishing out seven assists.
Raytown South, who fell to 15-6 after the loss, stayed within striking distance throughout the contest by connecting on nine 3-pointers. Newton and Rian Pearson scored 19 points apiece to pace the Cardinals.
With the win Rock Bridge climbed three rungs from seventh in last week’s Class 5 rankings. The only teams that stand in the way of a Bruin climb into the top spot of the rankings are top-ranked Raytown (20-0), Kickapoo (17-4) and Webster Groves (19-3).
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), Blair Oaks (Class 3), Westran (Class 2) and Northeast (Class 1).
Missouri Boys Basketball Rankings
Top 10
1. Raytown (19-0) 2
2. St. Charles West (21-1) 1
3. Kickapoo (17-4) 4
4. Webster Groves (19-3) 3
5. Rock Bridge (17-2) 8
6. McCluer North (16-4) 7
7. Waynesville (16-5) 10
8. Glendale (15-5) 6
9. Parkway South (20-2) 9
10. Hogan Prep (12-3)
Dropped Out: No. 5 Springfield Central
Class 5
1. Raytown (19-0) 1
2. Kickapoo (17-4) 3
3. Webster Groves (19-3) 2
4. Rock Bridge (17-2) 7
5. McCluer North (16-4) 6
6. Waynesville (16-5) 9
7. Glendale (15-5) 5
8. Parkway South (20-2) 8
9. Springfield Central (16-6) 4
10. Hazelwood Central (15-5) 10
Class 4
1. St. Charles West (21-1) 1
2. Branson (17-3) 2
3. Sikeston (15-3) 3
4. Webb City (16-4) 4
5. Republic (15-6) 10
6. Carl Junction (14-4) 5
7. St. Francis Borgia (18-4) 7
8. Ruskin (14-5) 9
9. McCluer South (19-5) 6
10. Logan-Rogersville (13-7) 8
Class 3
1. Hogan Prep (12-3) 1
2. Cardinal Ritter (14-3) 2
3. Maplewood-Richmond Heights (15-4) 5
4. Willow Springs (16-4) 4
5. Charleston (12-7) 8
6. Lafayette County (12-6) 3
7. Mount Vernon (15-8) 7
8. Bowling Green (16-0) 6
9. New Madrid County Central (7-3) 9
10. South Shelby (16-3)
Dropped Out: No. 10 Highland
Class 2
1. Clever (19-1) 1
2. South Iron (18-1) 2
3. Harrisburg (15-2) 3
4. Thayer (21-1) 4
5. Sacred Heart (5-0) 5
6. Wellington-Napoleon (14-2) 6
7. Marionville (13-3) 7
8. Concordia (14-2) 8
9. Sturgeon (13-4)
10. Hayti (15-3) 9
Dropped Out: No. 10 Eskridge
Class 1
1. Scott County Central (15-2) 1
2. Bell City (15-2) 4
3. Newtown-Harris (17-0) 2
4. Glasgow (15-2) 5
5. La Plata (16-0) 3
6. Chadwick (14-3) 6
7. Eminence (13-4) 7
8. Fair Play (3-0) 10
9. Lesterville (15-3) 8
10. Mound City (13-4) 9
Missouri Girls Basketball Rankings
Top 10
1. Hickman Mills (19-0) 1
2. Incarnate Word Academy (19-3) 2
3. Blue Springs (19-2) 3
4. St. Joseph’s Academy (18-4) 4
5. Kickapoo (16-4) 5
6. Bolivar (16-2) 6
7. McCluer South (18-3) 9
8. Hickman (15-6) 7
9. Rock Bridge (15-6) 8
10. Marshfield (20-0) 10
Class 5
1. Hickman Mills (19-0) 1
2. Incarnate Word Academy (19-3) 2
3. Blue Springs (19-2) 3
4. St. Joseph’s Academy (18-4) 4
5. Kickapoo (16-4) 5
6. Hickman (15-6) 6
7. Rock Bridge (15-6) 7
8. Fort Osage (14-4) 8
9. Nixa (15-5) 9
10. Ozark (18-3) 10
Class 4
1. Bolivar (16-2) 1
2. McCluer South (18-3) 2
3. Marshfield (20-0) 3
4. Republic (14-5) 5
5. Platte County (19-2) 4
6. Notre Dame de Sion (10-5) 6
7. St. Joseph’s Benton (15-3) 9
8. St. Dominic (19-1) 7
9. St. Francis Borgia (17-3)
10. Branson (13-6) 8
Dropped Out: No. 10 West Plains
Class 3
1. Blair Oaks (16-1) 2
2. Springfield Catholic (14-5) 1
3. South Shelby (17-1) 3
4. Mount Vernon (16-4) 4
5. North Callaway (17-2) 5
6. Palmyra (11-5) 6
7. Pembroke Hill (7-6) 9
8. Stockton (10-6) 7
9. Fair Grove (11-5) 8
10. Hermann (12-5)
Dropped Out: No. 10 Clark County
Class 2
1. Westran (17-0) 2
2. McAuley Catholic (11-5) 1
3. Penney (19-0) 4
4. Osceola (16-0) 3
5. Canton (15-2) 5
6. Smithton (14-1) 7
7. North Platte (16-1) 6
8. Crest Ridge (17-0) 9
9. Laquey (14-2) 10
10. Sparta (12-4)
Dropped Out: No. 8 Early
Class 1
1. Northeast (13-2) 2
2. Rock Port (18-2) 1
3. New Franklin (13-4) 5
4. Meadville (18-0) 4
5. Exeter (5-3) 3
6. Delta (16-1) 6
7. Gilman City (14-1) 7
8. South Nodaway (10-4) 8
9. Silex (10-7) 9
10. Walnut Grove (2-2) 10
