CLASS 3 GIRLS

DONIPHAN VS BLAIR OAKS, FRIDAY, 4:30
WESTRAN VS. PEMBROKE HILL, FRIDAY, 6:05

CHAMPIONSHIP, SATURDAY, 4:30

DONIPHAN DONETTES—This marks the 12th trip to the playoffs—all since 1987—for Doniphan and it’s their third trip to the MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown. The team aspect is heavy endorsed by head coach Jimbo Blackwell, who typically uses eleven players a game. Junior Morgan Davis leads the charge on offense for the Donettes with 22.9 points per game. She’s often set up by junior Haily Reed, who averages 4.9 assists per game. Jaysa Blackwell, who is second on the team in assists is the daughter of head coach Jimbo Blackwell, who is in his 11th season at Doniphan.

Head coach: Jimbo Blackwell
Record: 24-4
Current winning streak: 9
Semifinal appearances: 2
State titles: 0
Sectionals: 58-23, Kelly
Quarterfinals: 50-4, Miller Career Academy
Leaders
•Scoring: Morgan Davis, 22.9 ppg
•Rebounds: Adja Jones, Angela Rogers, 4.5 rpg, Kaci Price 4.3 rpg
•Assists: Haily Reed, 4.9 apg

BLAIR OAKS FALCONS—Blair Oaks High School, which is located just outside of Jefferson City is about a half hour from Columbia. But for the Blair Oaks girls’ basketball program, it could have been on the moon. The Falcons, which are making just their fourth post-season appearance, have advanced to the MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown for just the first time in school history. Third-year head coach Leroy Bernskoetter has the team in the playoffs for the first time since 1994. They’re led by a balanced scoring and rebounding attack. Five players average between 11.9 and 7.6 points per game and five players average between 3.4 and 8.5 rebounds per game. Freshman Lauren Rackers and senior Beth Jones help distribute the ball, as each distributes 3.9 assists per game. Sophomore Linsay Henke, who averaged 10.5 points nad 6.9 rebounds per game, is the son of former major league pitcher Tom Henke. He, too, attended Blair Oaks. Leading scorer Kristin Miller is the younger sister of Wichita State’s Paul Miller, who was recently named the Missouri Valley Conference’s Player of the Year.

Head coach: Leroy Bernskoetter (68-39)
Record: 24-6
Current winning streak: 7
Semifinal appearances: 0
State titles: 0
Sectionals: 53-38, Licking
Quarterfinals: 51-46, Mount Vernon
Leaders
•Scoring: Beth Jones 11.9 ppg
•Rebounds: Kristin Miller, 8.5 rpg
•Assists: Lauren Rackers, Beth Jones, 3.9 apg

WESTRAN HORNETS—In 1994, Westran advanced to the playoffs and lost their first round game. That’s it. Their entire playoff history boils down to one game, until this year. The Hornets come into the Class 3 Show-Me Showdown as the team to beat, wit ha 29-1 record. A 34-33 setback at New Franklin was their only loss of the season. What makes the Hornet’s run in 2006 even more impressive is the fact that they’ve done it with just two seniors and two juniors. They’ll lose only eight of their 53.3 points per game next season. Sophomore Kayla Rice leads the team with 15.1 points and 4.7 assists per game. Their 18-game winning streak is the longest in Class 2.

Head coach: Gary Dresback (126-88)
Record: 29-1
Current winning streak: 18
Semifinal appearances: 0
State titles: 0
Sectionals: 48-45, Clark Co.
Quarterfinals: 47-26, McCluer South-Berkely
Leaders
•Scoring: Kayla Rice, 15.1 ppg
•Rebounds: Elaine Stevenson, 6.9 rpg
•Assists: Kayla Rice 4.7 apg

PEMBROKE HILL RAIDERS—Pembroke Hill must feel like the old pros in this year’s Class 3 Girls MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown. They enter the semifinals as the only team to ever win a state championship and one of only two teams to advance to the final four since 2001. They grabbed their third state title in school history in 2005 with a 47-45 overtime win over Lutheran (St. Peters). They came into this season’s campaign with just one senior, but that senior is the driving force behind their success this season. Kaniesha Agee, who is committed to play at Drake University next season averages 6.8 points, 4.9 rebounds , 7 assists and 3.4 steals per game. Her efforts have certainly advanced the efforts of sophomores Kristina Mingos and Elyseia Dunn, who lead the team in scoring. Mingos scores 18.9 and Dunn puts in 16.7 points per game.

Head coach: Mark Spigarelli (310-62)
Record: 24-5
Current winning streak: 10
Semifinal appearances: 3
State titles: 3 (1995, 1999, 2005)
Sectionals: 49-43, Fair Grove
Quarterfinals: 47-26, Smithville
Leaders
•Scoring: Kristina Mingos, 18.9 ppg
•Rebounds: Kristina Mingos, 6.8 rpg
•Assists: Kaniesha Agee, 7 apg