HDC rivals Winston, Mercer start basketball season as state-ranked boys teams

The Missouri Basketball Coaches Association (MBCA) has announced its “preseason” basketball poll, as the 2016-2017 season gets underway with a flurry of pre-Thanksgiving match-ups.

In Class 1 boys, the defending HDC Conference champion Winston Redbirds begin the season ranked #2, with the Mercer Cardinals in the 8th position.  The Jefferson Eagles are ranked #10, with Walnut Grove the top-ranked squad in the state.  Perennial power Scott County Central, returning to Class 1 this season, are ranked third, with the Glasgow Yellowjackets fourth.

Defending state champion Hartville is top-ranked in Class 2 boys, while Stanberry, a new squad moving into Class 2, starts the season ranked #3.  Knox County, brand-new to the Lewis and Clark Conference, is #7.  

Barstow High School is top-ranked in Class 3, with St. Louis Vashon leading the pack in Class 4 (St. Joseph Lafayette is #3), and Webster Groves #1 in Class 5.

As has been the case for many years, northwest Missouri dominates the Class 1 girls poll, where the seven-time defending HDC champions, Mercer, starts the year ranked #3.  Jefferson is at #2 with Walnut Grove in the top spot.  Glasgow and Southwest Livingston are ranked #4 and #5 respectively.  

Mound City, despite losing all-state guard (and current NCMC Lady Pirate) Kendey Eaton to graduation, starts #7 in defense of their state title, while Norborne is ranked 9th.

Skyline is ranked #1 is Class 2 girls.  Scotland County, moving this year from the now-defunct Tri-Rivers Conference into the Lewis and Clark Conference, is ranked #7.

The Trenton Lady Bulldogs are not in the Top 10 to start the year in Class 3, where Strafford is top-ranked, followed by Southern Boone, Saxony Lutheran, and Father Tolton Catholic (Columbia, MO).

Defending state champion St. Joseph Benton is top-ranked in Class 4, while a newcomer to Class 4, the Chillicothe Lady Hornets, are #7.  Smithville is ranked #8 and Grain Valley ninth.

Springfield Kickapoo is top-ranked for Class 5 girls followed by Kirkwood and Webster Groves.  Liberty is #5 in the state of Missouri.