ADVANCE BOYS, ORAN GIRLS BRACE FOR CLASS 1A REGIONAL GAMES TONIGHT

Heading into tonight's regional state playoff game against Naylor at Sikeston High School, Advance seems to have everything going its way.

The Hornets have had three days between games. Naylor has had two.

Advance is 100 percent healthy. Naylor is banged up.

The Hornets defeated Oran 66-44 last week. Oran beat Naylor 73-64 a couple weeks ago.

But nothing is certain in a one-game situation.

"When they're healthy, they're a very good club," said Advance coach Jim Hall.

But that's perhaps the biggest question heading into tonight's 8:15 p.m. tipoff.

Naylor (19-7) had three of its top players suffer ankle injuries in the Class 1A, District 1 Tournament.

Naylor's 6-foot-8 center Steven Thrasher (19 points, 15 rebounds per game) was among the trio. Thrasher injured his ankle during the Eagles' 76-68 victory over Delta C-7 in the championship game. Naylor's leading scorer, Shane Tharp (22 ppg), a 5-10 guard, suffered his injury with just :55 left in the title game. The severity of both injuries remains in question.

"I don't know how strong they'll be (tonight). It will depend on their recovery from injury," Hall said.

Naylor's offense is centered around Thrasher, but "the Tharp kid is just a pure shooter and shoots well off the dribble," Hall said. "Thrasher is a very good offensive player around the basket. He's got a nice soft shot off the backboard. He'll be a force. We don't have anybody his size, but we're quicker and probably play better defense. We'll have to come up with some things offensively."

But don't look for Advance to get away from the things that have made it 25-4 and the fourth-ranked team in Class 1A.

"I don't think our strategy will be changed," said Hall. "We're going to try to pressure the perimeter. I've always maintained that interior defense depends on perimeter defense. But we'll try to force (Thrasher) to shoot away from the basket as much as possible."

Advance is led by Garrett Broshuis who gets about 23 points per game, but the Hornets proved in their district title game that they are more than just a one-man show. The Hornets, though not a huge team, get good guard play from Adam Rainey and Daniel Turner and get solid interior play from a host of players.

Advance, in addition to being healthier than Naylor, is also more rested.

The Hornets' last game was Thursday night in a 81-61 win over Bernie for their first district title in 22 years.

Naylor, meanwhile, played Friday night.

"In our case, it's a better situation in that we played Thursday night," Hall said. "We were able to take a day off Friday. And it's the same time frame between games as a regular week. Friday night to Monday is a lot different. It's just one day but it's a big difference.

"Our No. 1 goal this season was to prepare as best as we can for the next game and we felt if we did that the next goal of winning a district championship would take care of itself. My kids' attitude about this is really good. They're not outwardly talking about anything but the next game. They really prepare and concentrate on the next game and that is the right attitude to have."

Oran girls vs. Neelyville

After pulling off a shocking win over Scott County Central in the district championship game, Oran's girls will take on Neelyville at Sikeston Field House tonight in a Class 1A regional game.

Neelyville is led by Twana Johnson, a 5-foot-6 senior guard who is averaging 24 points per game this season. Neelyville is currently 13-12.

Oran (15-9) is led by Sara Heisserer, who scores about 15 points per game. Maria Eftink averages 10 points and Ashley Dirnberger gets about eight.