The St. Louis area is well represented as Final Four weekend of the Missouri State High School Activities Association Basketball Championships begins in Springfield.
Class 4-6 schools take center stage at the John Q. Hammons Arena on the Missouri State University campus. Vashon and Cardinal Ritter boys’ teams, and Incarnate Word and Whitfield girls’ teams will attempt to repeat state championship performances from last season.
Also, in the hunt for state championship glory are CBC, Chaminade and Webster Groves boys’ teams along with girls’ teams from John Burroughs, Webster Groves, and St. Joseph’s Academy.
Here is a look at this weekend’s Final Four matchup and schedule.
Class 6 Boys
CBC vs. Chaminade, Thursday, 4 p.m.
Nixa vs. Staley, Thursday, 6 p.m.
Third Place, Friday, noon
Championship Game, Friday, 4 p.m.
Outlook: Metro Catholic Conference rivals CBC and Chaminade played for a district championship last season. This year, they will meet in the state semifinals with a berth in the state championship game on the line. They split two meetings this season, with each team winning at home. The bracket’s other side features a talented Staley team, the best team in the Kansas City area, against Nixa, the pride of Southwest Missouri.Â
Class 5 Boys
Webster Groves vs. Cardinal Ritter, Friday, 6 p.m.
Springfield Catholic vs. Jeff City Helias, Friday, 8 p.m.
Third Place, Saturday, noon
Championship, Saturday, 4 p.m.
Outlook: Cardinal Ritter and Webster are no strangers to recent state championship success. Ritter is seeking a three-peat after winning Class 3 in 2020 and Class 5 last season. Webster Groves won back-to-back state titles in 2017 and 2018. On the other side of the bracket, Helias features one the premier guard tandems in Missouri in junior Desmond White and senior Malcolm Davis. Catholic also features a prime scorer in senior Zach Howell, who has 2,000 career points.
Class 4 Boys
Vashon vs. New Madrid Central, Friday, 6 p.m.
Father Tolton vs. Pembroke Hill, Friday, 8 p.m.
Third Place, Saturday, noon
Championship, Saturday, 8 p.m.
Outlook: Vashon looks to repeat as state champions with its young and talented squad. The Wolverines are led by 6’6” junior Kennard Davis, 6’5” junior Jayden Nicholson and sharpshooting freshman Trey Williams. They will face a skilled New Madrid team in the semifinals in a rematch of last year’s state quarterfinal. On the other side, a powerful Tolton team comes to the Final Four, led by 6’11” senior forward Jevon Porter. Pembroke Hill features a set of brothers, Devin, Darin, and Quinton Conley in its starting lineup.
Class 6 Girls
St. Joseph’s vs. Incarnate Word, Thursday, noon
Kickapoo vs. Blue Springs South, Thursday, 2 p.m.
Third Place, Friday, 10 a.m.
Championship, Friday, 2 p.m.
Outlook: Incarnate Word remains a dynasty in girls’ basketball and the Red Knights are back in the hunt for another state title. They have a dynamic duo in senior Saniah Tyler and junior Natalie Potts. On the other side of the bracket, Kickapoo and Blue Springs South are high-quality teams.
Class 5 Girls
Whitfield vs. Webster Groves, Friday, 10 a.m.
West Plains vs. Smithville, Friday, noon
Third Place, Saturday, 10 a.m.
Championship, Saturday, 2 p.m.
Outlook: Whitfield is seeking a repeat state championship after winning its first last season. The road won’t be easy as it must face Webster Groves in the semifinals. The Statesmen were Class 6 state runners-up last season. On the other side, West Plains is back in the Final Four after finishing second to Whitfield last season.
Class 4 Girls
John Burroughs vs. St. James, Friday, 2 p.m.
Jeff City Helias vs. St. Joe Benton, Friday,4 p.m.
Third Place, Saturday, 10 a.m.
Championship, Saturday, 6 p.m.
Outlook: An extremely competitive Final Four here with each team capable of winning two games and taking home the state trophy. John Burroughs has been on quite a post-season roll with a victory over Cardinal Ritter in the sectionals enroute to the Final Four.
