Top 25 Missouri high school boys basketball rankings (2/22/2024)
Oak Park holds on to the top spot in this week's SBLive Missouri Power 25 boys basketball rankings, while red-hot Sikeston and Ladue climb closer to the top of the rankings.
Here is our breakdown of this week's SBLive Power 25 Missouri high school boys basketball rankings:
PREVIOUS RANKINGS: DEC. 22 | JAN. 3 | JAN. 17 | FEB. 7
Missouri high school boys basketball rankings
February 22, 2024
1. Oak Park (23-3)
Previous rank: 1
The Northmen closed the regular season by winning four in a row and are the top seed in the Class 6 District 8 Tournament — a spot ahead of defending Class 6 champion Staley. In the regular-season finale win over previous No. 15-ranked North Kansas City, junior guard Caleb Estes scored 17 to lead four players in double figures.
2. Sikeston (24-0)
Previous rank: 5
The Bulldogs hammered Caruthersville 94-49 on Feb. 13, the eighth this year to eclipse the 90-point mark. Senior standout Dontrez Williams posted a double-double with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Three days later, the Abilene Christian signee had a 32-point, 23-rebound effort.
3. Ladue (24-1)
Previous rank: 8
The Rams are on an 11-game winning streak following a close 68-65 win over Orchard Farm on Feb. 20. Five different players scored 10 or more points for Ladue in that win, with Dwayne Foley’s 15 pacing the balanced attack. Foley is one of two Rams scoring more than 10 points per game this year and he’s at the top at 13.4 points per game.
4. St. Mary’s (23-3)
Previous rank: 3
Playing without high-scoring junior guard Zyree Collins against Normandy, Marquand Hayes scored a team-high 21 points in an 87-70 win over Normandy on Feb. 7. However, De Smet handed the Dragons a loss on Feb. 20, 79-65.
5. Vashon (18-6)
Previous rank: 4
The Wolverines are on a five-game winning streak and are coming off scoring 92 points in a win against Soldan — matching their season-high for points this season. Senior guard Nassir Binion led Vashon in points (17), rebounds (7) and assists (3) in that win.
6. Vianney (19-5)
Previous rank: 6
The Griffins handed Borgia only its third loss of the season on Feb. 19. Luke Walsh led the Vianney with 21, one of three in double figures. He’s averaging 23.3 points per game.
7. New Madrid County Central (22-3)
Previous rank: 2
The end of the regular season was rough for the Eagles with losses to Sikeston and Cape Girardeau Central. NMCC is the top seed in the Class 3 District 1 tournament this week and will face either Portageville or Caruthersville on Thursday in the semifinals.
8. Webster Groves (19-6)
Previous rank: 9
The Statesmen have won six of seven and the only loss in that span came against No. 3-ranked Ladue. Senior forward Iziah Purvey and freshman guard Scottie Atkinson have been a 1-2 punch lately for Webster Groves as the duo combined for 47 in a 70-55 win over Jackson on Feb. 20.
9. St. Francis Borgia (23-2)
Previous rank: 12
All three losses this season are to teams in this top 25, including to No. 6-ranked Vianney on Feb. 19. The Knights are the top seed in the Class 4 District 7 Tournament and received a bye into the semifinals.
10. Springfield Central (20-6)
Previous rank: 10
The Bulldogs had won seven in a row before that streak was snapped on Feb. 16 in a pretty remarkable high school game. Central lost an Ozark Conference game to Rolla, 104-102, in double overtime. It is the first 100-plus game for the Bulldogs dating back to at least the 2008-2009 season.
11. Kickapoo (21-3)
Previous rank: 11
Kickapoo responded to a loss to Central by winning four in a row, including a buzzer-beating shot by Jackson Shorter in a 54-53 win over Glendale on Feb. 9.
12. John Burroughs (22-4)
Previous rank: 13
The Bombers lost to three points by Principia on Feb. 9, but are 13-2 in games played in 2024. Junior guard Owen Walther, whose dad played at Missouri, is hitting 43% of his 3-pointers this year for the Bombers.
13. North Kansas City (20-6)
Previous rank: 15
The Hornets are showing how balanced they are deep in the season. In the four most recent games, Herb Bass, Samuel Dada, Tyler Parks and Kamron Tate have been the team’s leading scorers in a game.
14. South Iron (25-1)
Previous rank: 19
The Panthers closed the regular season winning 14 in a row. South Iron is the no. 1 seed in the Class 1 District 3 Tournament and plays on Feb. 22. They have won five straight district titles in the last three Class 1 titles.
15. Lee’s Summit West (20-5)
Previous rank: 14
Senior guard Chaz Watson scored a team-high 21 points in a win against Liberty North, the start of a three-game winning streak for the Titans. However, North Kansas City beat them on Feb. 20.
16. Battle (18-8)
Previous rank: 7
The Spartans have lost four straight to No. 1 Oak Park, then 18-team wins in Hickman and Rock Bridge in city showdowns, before dropping a league game on Feb. 20. Before this skid, Battle hadn’t lost consecutive games this year.
17. Winnetonka (21-5)
Previous rank: 20
For the third time this season the Griffins scored 90 or more and had a season-high 99 in a win over Kansas City Ruskin on Feb. 20. Three players had more than 20, led by Ryan Barnhart’s 22.
18. Rolla (21-4)
Previous rank: 24
Ethan Brown scored 45 in a 104-102 overtime win against Springfield Central on Friday in double overtime. Earlier in the week he set a new school record with 47 points — breaking a record held by Hal Schmitt for 50 years.
19. Park Hills Central (19-5)
Previous rank: 16
Senior guard Jobe Bryant became the all-time leading scorer in MAAA Conference basketball history. He passed former Potosi star Dylan Coleman by scoring his 2,328th career point against MICDS earlier this month.
20. De Smet (20-5)
Previous rank: 22
The Spartans got 19 points each from Riley Massey and Jordan Boyd in a win against St. Mary’s on Feb. 20. The Spartans at 5-2 in February.
21. Francis Howell (22-3)
Previous rank: NR
The Vikings are 13-1 in 2024 and will have to face Troy Buchanan at home on Friday to wrap up the regular season. Junior Will Paulson averages 17 points and six rebounds per game for Francis Howell.
22. Cardinal Ritter (13-11)
Previous rank: 25
The Lions are 11-0 against teams in Missouri and recently have beaten both Helias Catholic and Chaminade, two teams in this top 25. Senior guard Clayton Jackson, who has signed with Lindenwood University, is averaging a team-high 11.4 points per game for the Lions.
23. Lindbergh (19-5)
Previous rank: 17
Following a loss to Ladue, the Flyers have won three straight going into the final week of the regular season. Five different players had double figures in a 69-47 win over Oakville on Feb. 15.
24. Chaminade (17-9)
Previous rank: 18
The Red Devils lost back-to-back games earlier this month to Peoria (Ill.) Richwoods and Cardinal Ritter, but won four in a row and topped Vianney, East St. Louis (Ill.) and De Smet in that span.
25. Helias (17-7)
Previous rank: 23
The Crusaders will have a chance to win the Central Missouri Athletic Conference title with a win at Rock Bridge on Friday. Since the last rankings, the Crusaders are 2-2.
Missouri boys high school basketball playoffs brackets: 2024 MSHSAA district matchups, game times
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- Cody Thorn | latsch@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveMiz