LISTEN TO MISSOURINET SPORTS DIRECTOR DAVID SPRAGUE’S PREVIEW BELOW

CLASS 1 GIRLS

DELTA VS LEETON, THURSDAY, 4:30
SILEX VS. DEKALB, THURSDAY, 6:05

CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY, 12:10

DELTA BOBCATS—Delta has proven this season that it’s not how many players play, it’s which players play. Only six members of their basketball team have touched the playing surface this season, but their 27-1 record seems to indicate that they don’t need anyone else. Perhaps even more interesting is that this team doesn’t sport a single senior. Junior guard Shea Smith is the leading scorer with 16.3 points per game., while freshman Jodi Menz has been the glass-cleaner of the team with 8.4 rebounds per contest. They enter the MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown with the longest winning streak in Class 1—22 games.

Head coach: Nate Crowden (387-202)
Record: 27-1
Current winning streak:22
Semifinal appearances: 2
State titles: 0
Sectionals: 53-41, Scott Co. Central
Quarterfinals:54-49, Chadwick
Leaders
•Scoring: Shea Smith, 16.3 ppg
•Rebounds: Jodi Menz 8.4 rpg
•Assists: Tiffany Amelunke, 3.6 apg

LEETON BULLDOGS—Leeton returns to the MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown with a bitter taste in their mouths from last season. Last year they made just their second trip to Columbia and lost in the semifinals and the consolation game. This year, they return and it will take quite an effort to get things rolling against the Bulldogs. They’re 29-1 and sporting a vicious defense. This season Leeton is allowing a paltry 25 points per game. No one has scoreed more than 49 points on them all season. On offense, they put in 57.8 per game. Leading the way are seniors Hailey Stockton and Tia LaFavor who average 15.2 and 14.7 points per contest. But they get their points in different ways. Stockton has benefited from 78 three pointers, while LaFavor, who stands at 6-1, has dominated from the inside. It’s no surprise that LaFavor also leads the team with 9.8 rebounds per game.

Head coach: Arnie Drendel (n/a)
Record: 29-1
Current winning streak:13
Semifinal appearances: 2
State titles: 0
Sectionals: 62-43, Wellington-Napoleon
Quarterfinals: 59-42, Drexel
Leaders
•Scoring: Hailey Stockton, 15.2 ppg, Tia LaFavor, 14.7 ppg
•Rebounds: Tia LaFavor 9.8 rpg
•Assists: Hailey Stockton, 4.6 apg

SILEX LADY OWLS—- Mother Nature has put a damper on what was expected to be a celebration of an impressive accomplishment. Both the Silex boys and girls basketball teams advanced to the Class 1 MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown, but a destructive tornado left a tremendous amount of damage behind in the town. Despite it, the boys and girls have plodded on in preparation of the final four. The Lady Owls are back for the first time since 2001, when they won their only state championship. This year’s team is led by sophomore guard, Ashley Fleming, who is scorching the net with 24.1 points. While she is by far the team scoring leader, Fleming isn’t unselfish—-her 5.4 assists per game also leads the Lady Owls. And for good measure, she also leads the way with eight rebounds per game, as well.

Head coach: Robert James (68-39)
Record: 23-6
Current winning streak: 8
Semifinal appearances: 1
State titles: 1 (2001)
Sectionals: 63-54, Green City
Quarterfinals:55-44, New Franklin
Leaders
•Scoring: Ashley Fleming, 24.1 ppg
•Rebounds: Ashley Fleming, 8 rpg
•Assists: 5.4 apg

DEKALB TIGERS—Figuring out who to double team is a tricky question that has baffled teams facing DeKalb this season. Three players—senior Sammy Jo Pierce and sophomores Kelsey Wolfe and Karley Evans—-all average between 13.9 and 13 points per game. But it doesn’t stop there: Senior Casey Coleman and junior Tiffany Lane put in 9.4 and 9.0 points per game, respectively. The Tigers are making their second straight trip to Columbia, beating Leeton in last year’s consolation game and taking third.

Head coach: Cori Elifrits (98-45)
Record: 28-2
Current winning streak: 14
Semifinal appearances: 1
State titles: 0
Sectionals: 53-51, Mound City
Quarterfinals:49-35, Gilman City
Leaders
•Scoring: Kelsey Wolfe, 13.9 ppg, Sammy Jo Pierce/Karley Evans 13.0 ppg
•Rebounds: Tiffany Lane 6.0 rpg
•Assists: Kelsey Wolfe, 5.7 apg