Month: October 2016

The All-Conference selections are out for Small-COC Softball and a number of area ladies have garnered attention.

Allie Dickerson, Mackenzie Duvall, Hannah Erickson, Izzy Erickson, and Courtney Scobee of Reeds Spring got All-COC honors as did KK Thomas and Alexa Bekemeir of Hollister.

1st TEAM                                        2nd TEAM

Tayler Dial-Bolivar                    Darci Cline- Bolivar

Taryn Ella-Bolivar                     Shelby Davidson-Bolivar

KK Thomas-Hollister               Carsyn Julien-Bolivar

Shelby Choate-Marshfield        Makenzee Harris-Buffalo

Zoe Bisby-Marshfield                Emily Rice-Buffalo

Allie Dickerson-RS                    Alexa Bekemeier-Hollister

Mackenzie Duvall-RS               Courtney Duncan-Marshfield

Hailey Brown-Rogersville       Izzy Harrison-Marshfield

Hunter Bledsoe-Rogersville   Hannah Erickson-RS

Shelby Ince- Rogersville        Izzy Erickson-RS

x                                               Courtney Scobee-RS

 

Additionally Izzy Erickson, Alexa Bekemeier, Allie Dickerson, Mackenzie Duvall, KK Thomas, and Hannah Erickson were named 1st team all-district.  Maddison Cantrell(RS), Courtney Scobee, Dusty Welch (RS),Abby Rudd(RS), Maddie Walker (RS), and Riah Green (Hollister) were named 2nd team.

And finally a huge bit of Congratulations to Allie Dickerson for being  named First Team All-Region.  The region is made up of FOUR districts and includes all the Class 3 schools in Southwest and South Central Missouri.

The Branson Lady Pirates Softball team had three members earn honors on the all-conference teams.  Gracie Jaeger was a unanimous choice to the first team.  The shortstop was incredible in the field and at the plate for the Lady Pirates hitting close to .500 on the season.  Centerfielder Ashlea Large and Pitcher Kat Ford were named to the second team.

Congrats to Gracie, Ashlea, and Kat.  The whole All-COC team is listed below.

COC-Large Softball First Team
Rachel Rook- Republic
Kami Holt- Republic
Ally Stolte- Republic
Ashlyn Robertson- Nixa
Bre Johnson- Ozark
Morgan Doyle- Ozark
Kaia Storm- Webb City
Mareika Turnpen- Webb City
Bridget Rippe- Willard
Kaylee Pinzke- Willard
Gracie Yaeger- Branson
Kali Godfrey- Carthage
Cloe Neece- Neosho

COC-Large Softball Second Team
Nya Morgan- Ozark
Brooke Pridgen- Ozark
Sammi Hargis- Nixa
Morgan Jones- Nixa
Quincy Capron- Webb City
Addie Darby- Webb City
Karli Frazier- Carl Junction
Kennedy Burch- Willard
Savannah Yeargan- Willard
Taylor Baker- Neosho
Ashlea Large- Branson
Kat Ford- Branson

COC-Large Softball Honorable Mention
Sydney Phillips- Republic
Karleigh Summers- Republic
McKenna Harmon- Ozark
Ashton Boutwell- Carl Junction
Hallie Patrick- Carthage
Mariah Newby- Webb City
Shae Milligan- Nixa

 

Just like all the Fall Sports in Missouri, High School Soccer is starting to wind down.  The Brackets for the upcoming District Tournaments have been released.  The Branson Pirates received the #3 seed in the District that will be held in Ozark and will face the #2 seed, the Tournament Host.  That district semi-final game will take place Next Monday Night at 7.

1)Nixa

4)Joplin                  Monday Oct 24 5:00

2)Ozark

3)Branson                Monday Oct 24 7:00

I will have the call of the Branson-Ozark match on this website.

 

The official brackets will not be released until tomorrow however the order is already set for the Class 3 district that Reeds Spring and Hollister play in.. and they are pretty much the same as I had been projecting.

Reeds Spring will hang on to the number one seed and will get to play at home throughout the District Playoffs.  Hollister made a run at Mt Vernon for the four spot but even the win and bonus points for playing up a class were not enough and the Tigers will finish in the fifth spot.  Honestly they would have played the Mountaineers either way but were hoping to get them at home instead the game will be on the turf at Mt Vernon.  And as expected East Newton finishes in the seventh spot but since they beat Seneca head to head the two will flip spots….  Here is what the seeds will look like and the matchups..

1. Reeds Spring
2. Monett
3. Cassville
4. Mt Vernon
5. Hollister
6. East Newton (finishes 7th but jumps to 6th)
7. Seneca (6th but drops because head to head loss)
8. Aurora

1. Aurora at Reeds Spring
2. Hollister at Mt Vernon
3. Seneca at Monett
4. East Newton at Cassville

Class 5 is the place where a change could still take place.  As of this writing at 12:30 am the only spot up in the are if the 5th seed.  Right now Waynesville sits .04 ahead of Central.  While going into the week it looked like Branson’s most likely opponent in round one would be the Bulldogs that is up for debate right now. For that to happen only a few of Central’s opponents from this year would have to win Week Nine, but wins by those teams have been few are far between.  It could still change so hard to call this one done yet… Something to think about… If Catholic does not block the Reeds Spring Field Goal to beat the Wolves.  This is not a question and Central gets the Five.  Or if ANY SINGLE ONE of Centrals opponents that lost would have won it would have made a difference….  So, all that being said the way it looks they will still get a winless team but unless their is a change it will be Waynesville…. Also, the Lighthouse Christian Game vs Summit Christian (yes a MSHSAA game) has yet to be posted…  But as of now, here is what it looks like…

1. Glendale
2. Ozark
3. Lebanon
4. Branson
5. Waynesville
6. Central

 

1. Glendale gets a bye
2. Waynesville at Branson
3. Ozark gets a Bye
4. Central at Lebanon

Districts kick off next Friday

 

The Reeds Spring Wolves knew they would do no worse than share the COC championship going into last nights game with Springfield Catholic.  But, they wanted to win the title all to themselves.  However, that was not to be as Catholic claimed the defensive struggle 16-14 in front of a nice crowd at Swisshelm field in Springfield.

Catholic took advantage of a couple of miscues on Reeds Spring punts for two very short scoring drives and let their defense do the rest.  Scott McCaulley filed a story at area roundup

Meanwhile, Hollister continued its historic season.  After winning a fourth game for the first time in history a week ago, Coach Jacob Hamons ballclub looked to secure a not worse that .500 record for the season.  They did so by taking care of business against Marshfield.  It also marks the first time the Tigers have not only beaten the Blue Jays but the first time they have taken down a Class 4 Opponent.

Branson saw its regular season come to an end against Webb City.  Despite losing three games this season, the Cardinals are still the Cardinals.  Branson hang tough early but eventually Webb City eventually pulled away.  Branson will still host the first round of districts but as of this writing the opponent is up in the air.. Thought almost assuredly it would be Central, as of the minute I am writing this, Waynesville remains .04 ahead of the Bulldogs for the fifth seed. (in short Central’s opponents from this season have not done as well as expected tonight)

As we head to Week Nine of the High School Football season district seeds for our local teams seem to be pretty much set.  But, there is still plenty to play for, this week, for all three teams.

The most notable is Reeds Spring.  The Wolves got the big win over Bolivar earlier this season but still needed to run their way through the rest of the season.  Now, Springfield Catholic is all that stands in the way of the Wolves and their first ever outright Central Ozarks Conference Title. In case you are wondering the last time Reeds Spring won a league to themselves?  Try 1981 in the Green County League.

Catholic will provide a real task for the Wolves.  The Irish have improved throughout the season after losing a couple of close games early in the year.  They run out of the flexbone, like the Wolves.  However they place the quarterback in a pistol formation instead of under center.  Containing the QB will be key if Reeds Spring is going to get the win.  Tyson Riley is a special athlete.  The sophomore makes them go on offense.

For me, its kind of ironic.  Most people know I have waited a long time for the Wolves to accomplish this.  And to make it happen they will have to finish it off against a team coached by Steve Hancock and Ron Martin.  This should be a great football game.

Branson is locked into the number four seed in their six-team district ahead of winless Central and Waynesville.  The Pirates will almost assuredly host Central in the opening round of Districts next week.  But they have Webb City this week.  Its a very good Webb City team but a Webb City team that is in unusual territory for them.  The Cardinals will not win the COC and are only 5-3 on the season.  If the Pirates could find a way to tack on the fourth loss, it would go a long way for Confidence heading into district play.  Who knows what they could do from there?

And, Hollister.  The Tigers got the win over Strafford on Senior Night last week and have now won four games for the first time in school history.  They set fifth in the district standings but do have an outside chance of moving up to the fourth spot which would mean a HOME GAME in districts, that would be huge.  They will most likely play Mt Vernon either way. (Unless Mt Vernon would upset Cassville, but thats a whole different story)   Even more important than that a win over Marshfield would give them FIVE and guarantee they finish at at least .500 for the first time.

So lots of things to look at on Friday Night no matter which team you follow.  Its hard to believe that we are winding down the season.  Make sure you get out this Friday Night and cheer one of these teams on to Victory.

The state football rankings are out for the week and the Reeds Spring Wolves are the lone local team on the list.  The Wolves hold steady this week at #10 on the Class 3 list…a matter of fact the whole top ten stayed as it was a week ago.

Class 3

1. Maryville 8-0  139
2. Blair Oaks  8-0   127
3. Center  8-0  106
4. Monett  7-1  93
5. McClure South-Berkley  7-0  79
6. Richmond  8-0  70
7. Park Hills Central  8-0  63
8. Mexico   6-2  46
9. Osage   7-  20
10. Reeds Spring  7-1  18

With only one week to go, this will be my final projections for district standings.  And has been the case from when I started not a lot of big changes…. Nothing at the top but the bottom three is extremely liquid…

Class 3

1. Reeds Spring…  Wolves have taken full advantage of Bonus Pts
2. Monett… Cubs nearly slipped up, but were able to finish Seneca
3. Cassville… would have jumped to #1 had Monett gone down
4. Mt Vernon…. locked into Hollister but will they keep home field?
5. Hollister…. Tigers got the one win needed, now can they get another?
6. Seneca…. will finish sixth but may be seeded 7th
7. East Newton…. Patriots are showing life under Coach Lasalle
8. Aurora… could it be… District Champ to eight seed in one year?

Couple of big games to keep an eye on this week.  If Mt Vernon were to upset Cassville they will still finish 4th but would automatically jump them because of beating them head to head.  That would make a difference in the 2nd round opponent for Reeds Spring.  Also, if the standings stay the way they are right now, East Newton would change places with Seneca because they beat them head to head.  The thing to keep an eye on at the bottom is the Aurora vs McDonald County game.  An Aurora win combined with the bonus for playing up will make things close with EN.  Now, Aurora did beat East Newton and in most cases would jump them but since in this instance East Newton would be jumping Seneca so that is a moot point. (in moving position for seeded you go from top to bottom).  So the only way the Houn Dawgs will be able to move up is to get the points needed.

Class 5

1. Glendale…  That offense now with a defense is down right dangerous
2. Ozark…. must beat Bolivar.. but the stop of 2pt conversion in OT gets #2
3. Lebanon…. will be close but will end up playing a 1st round game
4. Branson…. lost to Willard but were already locked in here
5. Central… wont win but still not last
6. Waynesville… will get bonus pts this week but not enough.

This one seems to be set.. Ozark-Lebanon is as close as can be, only .1 pts between the two.  Knocking down that pass on the two pt conversion in double overtime will be the difference in getting  a first round bye and playing winless Waynesville in the first round.

 

Only one week left before Districts will begin, and for the most part the playoff picture is coming into focus…  I will have my projections out in the morning but with the exception of one change they will be very close to the current standings…

class 3

1. Reeds Spring 7-1   47.86
2. Monett  7-1           42.98
3. Cassville  6-2        41.36
4. Mt Vernon 5-3     35.45
5. Hollister   4-4     29.03
6. Seneca     3-5       26.14
7. East Newton 3-5   24.98
8. Aurora   1-7           19.34

Class 5

1. Glendale  8-0   50.14
2. Ozark     6-2     36.96
3. Neosho  5-3      36.86
4. Branson  2-6     20.77
5. Central    0-8     14.23
6. Waybesville 0-8  12.71

A quick look from last night as I make a rare trip to Oklahoma to visit family… and on OU-Texas Saturday at that.

The Reeds Spring Wolves have clinched no worse than a share of the Small Central Ozarks Conference Championship after they defeated Buffalo Friday Night at Buffalo High School.  My short write-up can be found at Wolves win again

Meanwhile Hollister stepped out of conference and defeated Strafford 25-21 on Senior Night at Tiger Stadium.  The win was the fourth victory of the season for the Tigers.  It marks the first time the the programs history that have reached that mark.  They complete an undefeated mark on the non-conference portion of their schedule for the first time as well.  The Tigers will go for win number five and a chance to possibly earn a home district game when they travel to Marshfield on Friday.

Branson came up short in their bid to win their third consecutive game.  Willard defeated the Pirates 28-0 at Pirates Stadium.  Branson will face Webb City on Friday before hosting the first round of districts the following week.