Ranking the Top 10 Springfield area high school boys' basketball teams so far this season
Believe it or not, there's a little over a month remaining in the high school basketball regular season.
There are still major conference matchups that need to take place before districts begin but we went through and ranked the top teams in the area so far this season.
Here are our area power rankings through games played Jan. 16.
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1. Central
Against teams from Missouri not named Link Academy, the Bulldogs are winning those games by over 20 points per game with their lone loss coming to Class 5 No. 4 Vianney in early December. No one has come close to the Bulldogs' level of dominance which included a Blue and Gold Tournament title and a win at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions. Marquee victories include Nixa, Republic Father Tolton and two against Glendale. A loaded roster featuring Keion Epps, Tyrique Brooks, Bryce Walker, Rue Wells and Devin Sanford makes this team tough to top.
2. Kickapoo
Everyone in the Ozarks should have Jan. 30 circled on their calendars for when Kickapoo will have the opportunity to claim the top spot when it travels to Central. The Chiefs have improved as the year has gone on and they're undefeated in in-state play. They have an Arvest Classic title, a win against Nixa and Rolla and a recent 67-55 win over Father Tolton when the Trailblazers were at full strength. We've seen the breakout of sophomore Reese Kimrey into becoming one of the best players in the Ozarks. You know this team is going to be well-coached and prepared every time it takes the floor. If Kickapoo ends up as the best team in the area by the end of the year, no one would be surprised.
3. Nixa
The Eagles were within one or two points in their losses to Central and Kickapoo. Nixa is right there and can very well win the Class 6, District 5 tournament that features both the Chiefs and Bulldogs. The Eagles have a Blue and Gold Tournament title and they should be the favorites to win the Central Ozark Conference title. The Eagles' biggest game for the remainder of the year will be on Feb. 6 at Republic in what could decide the COC.
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4. Rolla
The Bulldogs don't get as much love as the immediate area schools but they're making quite the statement before the collapse of the Ozark Conference after this year. Rolla's been as good as anyone in the region with its 13-2 record and impressive resume as the No. 6 team in Class 5. Sophomore Ethan Brown is a bonafide superstar and has carried his team to wins over Republic and Glendale.
5. Sparta
If it wasn't for Central's dominance in a larger class, we'd be looking a lot closer at the Trojans who have been blowing out just about everyone in their path at the Class 3 level. The Trojans, a district winner from a year ago, only have a pair of losses this season with one coming to Class 3 No. 2 Lafayette County and Class 6 No. 6 Central. Jacob Lafferty has the Trojans right there looking like a team that's ready for another postseason run.
6. Republic
The Tigers are as talented as anyone in the area and they'll have a shot at winning the loaded Class 6, District 5 postseason before it's all said and done. Three of their five losses came early in the season when they were without key players who were still playing football. Their other two came in an 11-point Blue and Gold Tournament championship defeat to Nixa before losing by 31 a few days later to Central. It's doubtful Republic will play that poorly again this season and more likely it will get better around postseason time.
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7. Hartville
The Eagles remain a state championship contender at the Class 2 level. If they can establish their game, they're capable of beating anyone in southwest Missouri. Hartville's two losses this season came in the Blue and Gold Tournament, where it was without head coach Brett Reed, one of the best in the area, due to family reasons. When he's been on the sideline, the Eagles have been as good as anyone which was proven in their Clever Invitational championship win over Fair Grove.
8. Fair Grove
The Eagles are the favorites to win the Mid-Lakes Conference and should be a challenger in the Class 3, District 11 field that also features Sparta, Greenwood and Forsyth. The Eagles proved themselves last week with a win at Strafford while also holding on to wins over Logan-Rogersville, Ash Grove and Marshfield this season. They play a style that will keep them close in every game they play and feature Tyler Barnett, one of the best post players in the area, and several solid guards.
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9. Parkview
The Vikings have flown a bit under the radar with a mostly out-of-state schedule so far this season. They have two losses to Kickapoo which included a four-overtime loss to the Chiefs in the Arvest Classic championship earlier in the year. Jack Simpson's team is as long and athletic as any team in the area. The Vikings should be able to remind everyone how good they are over the next several weeks as they play area programs.
10. Logan-Rogersville
The Wildcats have a younger team that appears to be on the rise. Logan-Rogersville is the overwhelming favorite to win the Class 4, District 11 tournament being the only team with a winning record at this point. We've seen the Wildcats top solid programs like Hartville, Branson, Willard and Marshfield to start the year. Freshman Chase Branham has lived up to the hype and appears to be well on his way to being one of the best players in the Ozarks. Both of the Wildcats' losses have been by four points and they're in a great spot to get hot over the next month heading into postseason play.
Outside looking in (alphabetical): Ash Grove, Catholic, Forsyth, Glendale, Greenwood, Lebanon, Marionville, Strafford, Willard
Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email at wwheeler@news-leader.com or X at @WyattWheeler_NL.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield area high school boys' basketball power rankings
