Missouri Boy's and Girl's Class Six Basketball Sectionals - March 9th, 2021

 I was talking about the Larry Hughes 17U team in class five but a large part of the team played on class six teams.  So, I will continue my story while making some class six predictions.

Coached by Eric Bain, Larry Hughes 17U elite had some great tournaments over the years, butting heads with SW Illinois Jets and Team Ramey, amongst others.  The team, pictured below, is represented by only one player still in the playoff hunt with his team.


Hunter Hacula (far left), and the Marquette Mustangs, have the daunting task of playing Chaminade, my class six champion pick.  Hunter's three-point game and ability to get to the rim, have been a large reason for Marquette's success but they will join the rest of the LHBA squad on the sidelines, watching the rest of the tournament from home.

LHBA's Preston Fortner (second from left), Sam Thompson (the tall guy in the back row), and David Trupiano (not pictured) did their best for Francis Howell but could not overcome the talented Fort Zumwalt North squad.  Howell edged Howell Central and LHBA career scoring leader, Myles Estrada (holding the trophy).  Estrada set a Howell Central scoring record that might never be broken.

Other LHBA players that had great high school careers include Webster Groves Anthony Phiffer (to the right of Estrada), power forward Logan Wich (Parkway West), and Nate Parker (Eureka).  All of those guys had major impacts on their high school programs and should get to play at a D2 or D3 college level.

But what about the class six tournaments?  

On the girl's side, I can sum it up in three words.  Incarnate Word Academy.  A school with 10 state championship trophies, will need to either build a new trophy case or put one in storage to make room for this year's trophy.  The only thing keeping them from another championship is a covid quarantine.  Kickapoo, Webster Groves, Blue Springs, and Jefferson City have outside shots at taking down IWA, but I doubt it.

On the boy's side, the favorite is Chaminade but there are eight teams that could be champions.  Staley and Liberty KC could both be state champions but they play each other tonight.  Flip a coin or take Staley by one.  Kickapoo or Nixa are state final teams but they play each other tonight also.  I will take Poo plus three.  Pattonville and Fort Zumwalt North both have an outside shot at the title.  I will take the Pirates by three but do not count out Coach Uffman's extraordinary team from getting in the title mix. And Blue Springs is no slouch.  So while Tarris Reed and company have the inside track, any of eight teams could take the class six title.

It has been fun rating teams all season.  Just a few weeks more and we will know for sure.

Enjoy the tournament.








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