The Reeds Spring Wolves went Undefeated through their Big 8 East opponents this season and the Coaches have awarded their efforts.  

  The coaches selections for All-Conference have been released and to no surprise the Wolves names are prevalent throughout the list.

  Ten of the offensive starters for Reeds Spring received some sort of recognition and all eleven on the defense are on one of the three lists.

 Blandy Burrell is your first team All-League quarterback.  He is rewriting the Reeds Spring record book.  The junior signal caller holds the single season record for TD passes and is closing in on the yardage number as well.  He already holds the single game marks from his performance against Seneca earlier this year.

   Joining Burrell on the first team are unanimous selections Caden Wiest (TE) and James Dowdy (WR).   They are joined by Moses Barr (OT), Ebin Crain (C), and Preston Blubaugh (RB).  Josh Lowe (OT), Braden Manning (G), and Addison Abshire (WR) were named to the 2nd team.  And, Tristen Cobb was name honorable mention.

  The Wolves had three unanimous selections on the defensive side of the ball.  Crain (DT), Adam Lewis (LB), and Cobb (DB) are joined on the first team by Caden Wiest (DE).  Sabastian Michaud (LB), Abshire (DB) and Cobb (DB) were named to the second team.  Lowe (DE), Barr (DT), Dan Fliflet (LB), and Jace Bolin (DB) were honorable mention.

  Miguel Campos received recognition as Honorable Mention Kicker.

  The honors did not stop there.  Burrell was named the Co-Offensive player of the year, sharing the honor with Bryant Bull from Marshfield.  Crain received the nod as the Conference Defensive Player of the Year.  

  Coach Andy McFarland was selected by his peers as the League Coach of the Year.

   Hollister received some well deserved recognition as well.  Blake Russell was a unanimous choice as a running back.  He is joined on the first team by his Guard Boston Huck.  Noah Richardson, Colton Hale, and Luke Calovich were named to the second team.

  Defensively, Richardson, Michael Collins, Colton Hale, and Ayden Kimmel received recognition.  

  Callovich was also named the 1st Team Punter.

  The Wolves are the #1 Seed in their District and will receive a first round bye in the District Playoffs.  They will take on the winner of Cassville vs Aurora on November 4th at Carl Langley Field

  Hollister is the #4 Seed in their District, they will host East Newton on Friday Night.

   The Missouri State High School Activities Association has released Class and District Assignments for Fall Sports.  No sport changed any more than did Football.

  Both Reeds Spring and Hollister have to be happy with where they landed.  The Wolves have lived in Class 3 District 6, pretty much, since this format started.  They are still there, however there were Big Changes to the opposing teams in the group.  Gone are Hollister, Seneca, and Mountain Grove.  Entering are School of the Osage and Clinton.  So the District Looks like this:  Reeds Spring, Buffalo, Cassville, Clinton, Aurora, and School of the Osage.

   Hollister woke up yesterday to find out, not only were they dropped to Class 2, but they made the drop  and avoided being put in the same district with perennial power Lamar. The Tigers are in Class 2 District 4 .  They are joined by Clever, East Newton, Forsyth, Mt Vernon, Seneca, and Catholic.  So the possibility of a Hollister-Forsyth matchup could happen in the post season.

  Both the Wolves and Tigers should be contenders in their respective Districts.

  Branson looks to be with the same group they were with a year ago: Camdenton, Central, Glendale, Lebanon, Rolla, and Waynesville 

Many of the area Volleyball teams have been put together. Class 3 District 11  features Reeds Spring, Hollister, and Forsyth.  Those are schools are joined by South Central Association members: Ava, Mountain Grove, and Willow Springs.

 Branson got a really tough draw.  The Lady Pirates are joined by: Carl Junction, Glendale, Hillcrest, McDonald County, Parkview, Webb City, and Willard.

 Blue Eye is in Class 1 District 8.  The Lady Bulldogs join: Bradleyville, Chadwick, Fordland, Niangua, and S of O.

Looking at Softball:  Reeds Spring lands in Class 3 District 6.  The Lady Wolves are joined by: Aurora, Cassville, Eldon, Logan-Rogersville, Osage, Seneca, Versailles.

  Branson is in a Class 4 District 6, as are: Camdenton, Hillcrest, Glendale, Marshfield, Parkview, Rolla, West Plains

Branson is the only area school with a Soccer Team.  The Pirates have been assigned to Class 3 District 5 along with: Camdenton, Glendale, Hillcrest, Parkview, Rolla, Catholic, and West Plains.

 Reeds Spring has a Girls Golf team for the first time in school history.  They will compete in Class 2 District 3, as will Hollister.  Those local schools are joined by: Ava, Buffalo, Cassville, Lamar, Marshfield, Rogersville, Monett, Mountain Grove, Mt Vernon, Nevada, New Convenant, and Seneca

 

    Reece McMurdo has had a great year as part of the one-two punch on the Reeds Spring Golf Team.  He and Ty Cooper have both qualified for the State Tournament to be held next week.

  McMurdo will tee off knowing his next golfing destination.  Last week he signed a National Letter of Intent to continue his academic and golfing career at William Woods University in Fulton, MO.   

  The Owls are among the top teams in NAIA.

mcMurdoInt (click on Link to hear interview with Reece)

      Its hard for anyone who hasnt played a sport to step in his senior year and be a productive part of any team.  Its even harder to win a starting spot.  But, that is exactly what Brandon Boyd did this year, as the starting centerfielder for the Reeds Spring baseball team.

   Last week, he added another chapter to this unlikely story.  He signed a National Letter of Intent to further his athletic and academic career at BBC in Springfield.

  Boyd  is looking forward to life as a Patriot.

BoydInterview  (click link to hear interview with Brandon)

    Another incredible evening at this years South Central Missouri Fellowship of Christian Athletes Banquet honoring Male and Female Athletes of the Year and Coach of the Year.

  This years Coaching award went of Branson Football Coach Anthony Hays.  While, Natalie Johnson, from Southwest High School was named Female Athlete of the year, Blue Eye’s Isaiah Mitchell garnered the award for the guys.  

  This year’s guest speaker was Kevin Sorbo, from Hercules and God’s not dead fame.  He spoke to the crowd about his career and the state of things today.  He encouraged people to stand up and make  a difference.

 A special surprise, Jonahan Isaac, from the Orlando Magic, also made an appearance.  He spoke about the release of his upcoming book, Why I Stand.  It’s about his life and what lead up to the moment of Standing for the National Anthem while others were taking a knee.

   I was fortunate enough to be part of the limited press that got to meet with Sorbo and Isaac just prior to the event.  Below is the uncut interview from that meeting…

Click player for Sorbo Interview

Click below for Isaac Interview

IsaacInterview

   The Good News for Future Blue Eye Basketball Opponents: The “Youngest Mitchell” has used up his High School Eligibility.  The Bad news for Future College of the Ozarks Opponents: You now have “Another Mitchell” to deal with.

  Isaiah Mitchell has signed a National Letter of Intent to continue his basketball and academic careers at C of O.  He will join, his brother, Andrew.

  Mitchell lead the Bulldogs, this season, to an undefeated Southwest Central League Championship, a district title, and a birth in the State Playoffs.  He was first team all-conference and was the League Player of the Year.  Last week he added All-State Honors to his list of accomplishments. 

   He will join Andrew  on Coach Steve Shepherd’s ball club.   Their older brother, Christian, also starred at Blue Eye, before playing his college ball at Kansas Wesleyan.  And older sister, Alexis, was a NCAA D-I volleyball player at the University of Tulsa.

(click player below to hear interview with Isaiah)

 

   Here are my award picks for the year.  As in years past I do not have stats on spread sheets in front of me.  Its more of an eye test than anything.  It’s all in fun.  Another good year of basketball is in the books.  Some folks stood out, some of those are on the list below and some others, I would love to had included but just so many spots.  Congrats to all, and thanks for another fun year…..

 

                                                                           Girls                                     Boys

 

Youngin of the Year(frosh/soph) TAYLOR FOSTER        TANNER BAIRD                   

 

Keep an Eye On                   SAMANTHA GEORGE              MALICHI HENRY          

 

My Final Shot                              JADE WATSON                        JOSH BARLOW

 

Best Floor General:             RILEY ARNOLD               KYLE SCARBROUGH

 

Underrated:                                GRACYN FAIRCHILD                CLAY KEMP 

 

Straight out Player              BRISSA GERE                      ISAIAH MITCHELL

 

Defend 2 win                       AVERY ARNOLD                       TANNER HIRSCHI              

 

Not About Me                       KYLA WARREN                  MATT GREENWALT

 

Coach of the Year                    KEN ELFRINK                           KYLE TURNER

     

Player of the Year           RILEY  ARNOLD                    GARRETT SNYDER  

                 

   

   

 

  For the second consecutive game Blue Eye came out firing on all cylinders and for the second consecutive game they, pretty well, put their opponent away in the first quarter.

  After taking care of Miller Wednesday Night, in Carthage.  The Lady Bulldogs had a lot shorter trip this afternoon.  Republic was the site and Dora was the opponent, as Blue Eye headed into their State Quarterfinal game looking to secure their third consecutive trip to the Show-Me Showdown.

  The Lady Bulldogs, again, came out with hot shooting and a stingy defense that saw them forcing turnovers and bombing away from long range.  Before the Lady Falcons had time to blink, Blue Eye jumped out to a 13-0 lead.  That margin had climbed up to 26-9 by the end of the first quarter and 39-18 by the half.

Before going to the locker room, the Lady Bulldogs had scorched the nets for 9 long range bombs. (Avery Arnold 4, Gracyn Fairchild 3, and Riley Arnold 2.)  About the only thing that Blue Eye struggled with all-afternoon was fouls.  But, not even that, would detour the Lady Bulldogs on this day.

  It was more of the same in the second half.  By time the third quarter ended Blue Eye held a 59-29 lead and we started the fourth quarter with a running clock.  

  The outside shot was the point of emphasis for Blue Eye in the first half, but the second half saw Kyla Warren come to life inside the lane.  She would score 16 of her team high 22 in the second half.

  In the end, Blue Eye had secured a spot in the Final Four for the third year in a row.  Dora was led by Cassidy Hambelton, who finished with a game high 27 points.

  In addition to Warren, Avery Arnold (15), and Gracyn Fairchild (14) finished scoring in double figures.

  Blue Eye will take on Wellington-Napolean at Noon in the State Semi-Finals.  The game will take place at JQH Arena and can be heard on perryphillipssports.com.

    Evangel is the choice for Hollister Defensive Back/Wide Receiver Tyler Goebel.  He made it official with the signing of a National letter of Intent this morning at Hollister High School.

  Goebel was part of a Hollister team that saw the Tigers achieve the first winning season in school history as well as host a district playoff game.

  The Valor as getting a player that is likely to contribute initially on the defensive side of the ball, but playing offense is not out of the question either.  The 6 foot 165 lbs senior said he chose Evangel, in part, due to its close proximity to Hollister, so his family to see him play.

  Evangel is part of the Heart of America Conference and Plays in the NAIA.

Goebel Signing  (click on link to hear interview with Tyler.

 

 

    Most have known for some time, that Ty Cooper would play Collegiate Golf.  Despite his sharp shooting on the hardwood, his prowess on the Golf Course is much more.  On Saturday he signed a National Letter of Intent to continue his academic and athletic career at Palm Beach Atlantic University, in West Palm Beach, Florida.

   You probably know that earlier this season, Cooper became only the 7th Reeds Spring basketball player to accumulate 1000 points in his career.  On the Golf  Course, though, he is among the best the state has to offer.  He qualified for state as both a freshman, and a junior.  His sophomore season was lost to MSHSAA cancelations due to Covid and he will be among the favorites for state medalist honors when he plays his senior season, this spring.

  Palm Beach Atlantic is and NCAA DII school and competes in the Sunshine State Conference.

TyCooperSigning  (click on link to hear interview with Ty )