LISTEN TO MISSOURINET SPORTS DIRECTOR DAVID SPRAGUE’S PREVIEW BELOW
CLASS 2 GIRLS
METRO STL VS. MARION C. EARLY, THURSDAY 9AM
CLOPTON VS. NORTH PLATTE, THURSDAY, 10:35 AM
CHAMPSIONSHIP, FRIDAY, 12:10
METRO (STL) PANTHERS—–Metro head coach Gary Glasscock has turned some heads in his time at the school. Glasscock, who is in just his fourth year there, leads the Panthers to their third straight Class 1 MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown. In fact they’ve made it to the championship games in two different classes—in 2004 they lost the Class 3 championship to Stockton and fell to Clopton in Class 2 last year. This year they enter the final four with just one senior—Lauren Witherspoon, who scored 8.9 points per game and leads the team with 4.8 per contest. They’re led by 5-11 freshman center, Ebony Davis who leads the team with 11.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
Head coach: Gary Glasscock (362-112)
Record: 27-3
Current winning streak: 5
Semifinal appearances: 2
State titles: 0
Sectionals: 58-38, Stoutland
Quarterfinals:64-30, Naylor
Leaders
•Scoring: Ebony Davis, 11.1 ppg, Brittany Dodson, 10.1 ppg
•Rebounds: Ebony Davis 7.1 rpg
•Assists: Lauren Witherspoon, 4.8 apg
MARION C. EARLY PANTHERS—-The Panthers find themselves in the playoffs for the first time since 1996 and in the MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown for the first time since 1989—their only other appearance in the semifinals. Former Missouri St. basketball player Melody Stewart (formerly Melody Campbell), who was on the Lady Bears 2000 NCAA Final Four team. In her second year at MCE, she has the team on a roll, as the Panthers come to Columbia having won 11 in a row and 15-of-16. Junior Kelsie Hargus handles most of the scoring load with 20.1 points per game and grabs 6.8 rebounds per game.
Head coach: Melody Stewart (50-8)
Record: 26-4
Current winning streak: 11
Semifinal appearances: 1
State titles: 0
Sectionals: 44-39, Pierce City
Quarterfinals:50-40, Blue Eye
Leaders
•Scoring: Kelsie Hargus, 20.1 ppg
•Rebounds: Kayla Painter, 7.8 rpg
•Assists: Meeleah Painter, 3.9 apg
CLOPTON HAWKS—Years of hard work and dedication paid off for long-time Clopton coach Ed Lindsay last season. After 28 years in coaching and 26 leading the Hawks, Lindsay led his team to the 2005 Class 1 state championship. Now his team is back and ready to attack again. The Hawks enter the 2006 MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown with an offense that has left a lot of teams in the dust this season. They’re putting up 74.3 points per game and those points are coming from four potent sources. Senior Mikal Bencomo leads the way with 21.6 points per contest and 6.9 assists per game. Meanwhile, freshman Deaven Omohundro scores 12.7 points per game and seniors Alicia Turner and Alicia Wheeler both get 12.4 points per contest. Clopton is deadly from the three-point arc, averaging over 10 treys per game. This is their fourth-straight trip to the semifinals
Head coach: Ed Lindsay (515-263)
Record: 28-2
Current winning streak: 11
Semifinal appearances: 5
State titles: 1 (2005)
Sectionals: 74-44, Scotland Co.
Quarterfinals:66-56, Russellville
Leaders
•Scoring: Mikal Bencomo, 21.6 ppg
•Rebounds: Deaven Omohundro, 6.8 rpg
•Assists: Mikal Bencomo, 6.9 apg
NORTH PLATTE PANTHERS—-The heyday for the North Platte basketball team was in the late 80’s when the Panthers advanced to the playoffs in 1988 and 1989. In ’89, they made their only appearance in the MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown and finished in fourth place. Those were their only appearances in the post season. Now they’re back, with a 26-3 record and a pretty big team. They have four players who stand over 5-10 and two over 6-0. Michelle Anderson, a 6-3 center is their leader with 13.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. Jessica James, a 6-0 junior puts in 10.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
Head coach: Roger Giger (323-271)
Record: 26-3
Current winning streak: 11
Semifinal appearances: 1
State titles: 0
Sectionals: 50-31, Gallatin
Quarterfinals: 48-34, Crest Ridge
Leaders
•Scoring: Michelle Anderson, 13.8 ppg
•Rebounds: Michelle Anderson, 9.1 rpg
•Assists: Jessi Moody 5.6 apg
