The road to the state championship begins for Missouri teams this weekend as the district playoffs begin underway. After a nine-game regular season, every team begins the postseason with a 0-0 record all over again. Here is a look at all of the districts that have St. Louis area teams along with my fearless predictions. To see the complete brackets, you can visit the website, www.mshsaa.org.
Class 6
District 1
Top Seed: Eureka
Top Contenders: Lindbergh, Kirkwood
Earl’s Prediction: Eureka (Wildcats break through this year)
District 2
Top Seed: CBC
Top Contenders: Hazelwood Central, Ritenour
Earl’s Prediction: CBC (Cadets are looking strong once again)
District 3
Top Seed: Rock Bridge
Top Contenders: Francis Howell, Blue Springs, Fort Zumwalt West
Earl’s Prediction: Blue Springs (Wildcats are state runners-up in ’17)
Class 5
District 1
Top Seed: Vianney
Top Contenders: Poplar Bluff, Jackson
Earl’s Prediction: Vianney (Defending state champions start their quest for a repeat).
District 2
Top Seed: Pattonville
Top Contenders: Chaminade, Webster Groves, Hazelwood East
Earl’s Prediction: Pattonville
District 3
Top Seed: Fort Zumwalt North
Top Contenders: Timberland, Holt
Earl’s Prediction: Fort Zumwalt North (Panthers are rolling once again into the postseason).
Class 4
District 1
Top Seed: Hillsboro
Top Contenders: Cape Central, North County
Earl’s Prediction: Hillsboro
District 2
Top Seed: Ladue
Top Contenders: MICDS, St. Mary’s
Earl’s Prediction: Ladue (Rams advanced to state semifinals last season).
District 3
Top Seed: Riverview Gardens
Top Contenders: Parkway Central, Parkway North
Earl’s Prediction: Riverview Gardens (A loaded district with three quality teams)
District 4
Top Seed: Borgia
Top Contenders: Rolla, Parkway West
Earl’s Prediction: Rolla
Class 3
District 2
Top Seed: Lutheran South
Contenders: Miller Career Academy, John Burroughs, Confluence
Earl’s Prediction: Miller Career Academy
District 5
Top Seed: McCluer South-Berkeley
Top Contenders: Orchard Farm, St. Charles West
Earl’s Prediction: McCluer South-Berkeley
Class 2
District 2
Top Seed: Lutheran North
Top Contenders: Trinity, Cardinal Ritter
Earl’s Prediction: Trinity (The game that everyone has been waiting for since the season started is the Trinity at Lutheran North final. No. 3 seed Cardinal Ritter is also a quality team).
