District playoff tournaments preview: Why not Van Buren? Bulldogs set sights high

Tipping off Monday, the newest edition of the state high school basketball postseason will begin with the boys taking center stage. 

A number of area teams will begin their quest in first-round contests while a small group has been awarded byes into the semifinals with only two wins needed to advance to their respective sweet 16s. 

It should be quite a ride for teams and fans for the next week as Southeast Missouri programs aim for historic runs. 

One of them could be Van Buren (8-13) who plays host to its own district (see details below) and as of late, the stars have aligned for a potential title as a No. 4 seed. 

“We (start with) Cabool and they are very similar to us,” Van Buren head coach Jacob Black said. “I feel it is a winnable game but we must be ready to play. I really like where we are and feel that for the first time this season, we are healthy and playing our best basketball, which is what we want. The guys are excited about the opportunity and have confidence in one another.” 

Black believes the stars have aligned with the team’s health having improved and the younger players earning more experience. 

“You can see how it has transpired the last few weeks as we are playing our best basketball right now,” Black said after his team won four of its last six heading into Friday night’s game against Bunker. “Offensively we have improved — we played good team defense all year. We struggled to score early on but the next five games we are averaging about 58-60 points per game. 

“We were taking good shots and since we have figured it out, we are taking great shots.” 

Black believes the field is ripe for anyone to take the district title. 

“We say that (why not, Van Buren?) every year,” Black said. “There is a lot of parity.” 

Senior Caleb Ricker is also feeling good about the Bulldogs chances next week. 

“We are building the team chemistry that we didn’t have,” Ricker said. “We learned how to play with different players and our incoming freshmen are a good group of talented kids. We are just now starting to play our style of basketball. 

“We have had the opportunity to play everyone in the district except Cabool. We have gotten to watch the teams several times or we have played against them so we know what to expect.” 

Capitalized teams below capsules indicate teams of area interest. All times are p.m. unless indicated and records are as of Thursday night’s action. 

CLASS 1 DISTRICT 1

At Gideon 

Monday

First round 

No. 2 Risco vs. No. 7 North Pemiscot, 5 

No. 3 CLARKTON vs. No. 6 Southland, 6:15 

No. 4 NAYLOR vs. No. 5 Gideon, 7:30 

Wednesday

Semifinals 

No. 1 Delta C-7 vs. Naylor/Gideon winner, 6 

2/7 winner vs. 3/6 winner, 7:15 

Friday

Championship, 6:30 

NOTES: The Naylor Eagles are 6-18 overall after a needed win against Zalma Thursday. Head coach Ed Moore’s team went 2-2 against district opponents so anything can happen.  

“If we play like we are capable of playing, we have a very good chance of winning (against Gideon),” Moore said. “We will be playing on their home floor, we match up with them very good.” 

Clarkton moved over .500 at 13-12 with a Thursday win and enter the district having beaten Naylor, Gideon, Southland, and North Pemiscot all by double digits. Their only loss was to Risco twice by a combined 10 points and to Delta C-7 by three. 

“I know (Southland) are more talented than they have been the past couple of years and Coach Ritchey has been doing for this a long time, so I am assuming they will be improved and ready to go,” Clarkton head coach Cole Alex McBroom said. “I definitely think that we are one of the teams that can win this thing. With us, Risco, and DC7 all playing close games I think it’s anybody’s to win.” 

CLASS 2 DISTRICT 1

At Holcomb 

Monday

First round 

4 South Pemiscot vs. 5 Holcomb, 7 

2 BERNIE vs. 7 Hayti, 4 

3 NEELYVILLE vs. 6 CAMPBELL, 5:30 

Wednesday

Semifinals 

1 Cooter vs. South Pemiscot/Holcomb, 6 

2/7 winner vs. 3/6 winner, 7:30 

Friday

Championship, 6  

NOTES: Neelyville has struggled as of late, dropping its last four contests, but they are Ozark Foothills Conference (OFC) toughened. 

“We have played fairly close to the district teams we have played,” Neelyville head coach Brad Burdin said. “Campbell always comes out physical and put up a fight for four quarters. We hope to make it past the first round and go from there.” 

Campbell is ready to roll as an 8-16 team with the potential to get hot. They are 1-4 against the district, including a 28-point loss to Neelyville. 

“Neelyville is a good team and we will have to be ready to play,” Campbell head coach Sean Campbell said. “I think we are playing pretty good right now. We got over the hump and won a close game over a good team Tuesday night (Delta c7).  We went through some discipline issues and several key injuries that really slowed us down but we hope to be ready for the district tournament.” 

CLASS 2 DISTRICT 2

At Van Buren  

Monday

First round 

4 VAN BUREN vs. 5 Cabool, 6 

3 Summersville vs. 6 Winona, 7:30 

Wednesday

Semifinals 

1 EAST CARTER vs. Van Buren/Cabool winner, 6 

2 ELLINGTON vs. Summersville/Winona winner, 7:30 

Friday

Championship, 6 

NOTES: Van Buren has already made it well known of its intentions this postseason and the top two seeds are aiming for their own piece of the pie in what promises to be a wide-open field. 

Ellington (9-12) has won back-to-back blowouts and is playing well at the right time. They’ve lost two close games to East Carter and are 3-2 overall versus the field without playing Cabool. 

“Summersville or Winona, either one of these teams will be a challenge for us,” Ellington head coach Jeremy Peterson said. “We played Winona back in December and won by three and Summerville in the middle of January and won by seven. 

“We feel pretty good about where we are at right now and the way we are playing.  We have put ourselves in a good position in district play and we are optimistic and are going to try and take advantage of the opportunities that we have in front of us in district play.” 

East Carter (11-12) head coach Jordan Penn isn’t happy with his team’s recent run of play but does have a 4-0 record against the district field. 

“I don’t know much about Cabool, but I know Van Buren would be tough to beat on their home floor with the rivalry that we have with them,” Penn said. “Either team will give us all we want in the Semi-Finals. Obviously, we have the target on our back because we are the No. 1 seed, but I truly feel like any of the six teams can win this district.

“We haven’t played our best basketball lately and are kind of limping into this tournament. We have some talent and guys who can play, but until we can guard better and share the ball on offense, we will struggle against anyone we play. We have to focus on controlling our emotions and playing team basketball. If we can find a way to be better with those things, we have just as good of a shot to win it as anyone else.” 

CLASS 2 DISTRICT 3

At Bloomfield 

Monday

First round 

Greenville and Talan McDaniel have faced plenty of challenges this year and are two wins away from their first-ever district title. They begin play Monday at Advance.DAR/Alan Dale

4 PUXICO vs. 5 Meadow Heights, 7:30 

2 Advance vs. 7 BLOOMFIELD, 4:30 

3 Oak Ridge vs. 6 Oran, 6 

Wednesday

Semifinals 

1 GREENVILLE vs. Puxico/Meadow Heights winner, 6 

The Van Buren Bulldogs believe they can advance out of the district playoffs as a No. 4 seed when tournament play begins Monday.Photo provided

2/7 winner vs. 3/6 winner, 7:30 

Friday

Championship, 6 

NOTES:  Another district stacked with area teams and is headed by a Greenville team ranked among the elite of Class 2 with a 21-1 record including last week’s OFC tournament title. 

“If we continue to play the way we are capable of playing, I like our chances against anyone,” Greenville head coach Nathan Walk said of a program that is yet to win a district title in its history. 

Puxico has had a strong season at 15-8 and head coach Bryant Fernetti is expecting a tough 4-5 contest against Meadow Heights. 

“They have a good balance of guard play and interior scoring,” Fernetti said of his opening opponent. “We are playing well: Our district is tough, but I believe we will be ready to compete.” 

The host Wildcats and head coach Kyle Keith are 4-19 but have competed in most games and could put a wrench in the higher seeds’ plans. 

“We had a close game with Advance earlier in the season,” Keith said. “The other teams we have played in the district were competitive ball games. Advance is very talented and can score the ball in bunches. We have to really guard well and make some shots when we get the opportunity. 

“I feel like we are better than our record indicates. We will take one game at a time and hopefully, we are playing on the final night.” 

CLASS 3 DISTRICT 1

At New Madrid 

Monday

First round 

4 Portageville vs. 5 Senath-Hornersville, 3  

2 Caruthersville vs. 7 TWIN RIVERS, 5:30 

3 MALDEN vs. 6 East Prairie, 7 

Wednesday

Semifinals 

1 New Madrid County Central vs. Portageville/Senath-Hornersville winner, 5 

2/7 winner vs. 3/6 winner, 6:30 

Friday

Championship, 6 

NOTES: Twin Rivers has been playing well as of late and the Malden Green Wave have trended in the right direction ever since the holidays. 

The Royals head coach Seth McBroom has seen his team move to 13-11 overall and will now have a chance to build off a recent run of positive results. 

“Caruthersville will be a tough game,” McBroom said. “Obviously, it’s a tough district.  Caruthersville has had a good season.  We will have to execute and be solid on both ends. 

“The team has played fairly well lately.  We feel like we always have a chance to compete and win.” 

Mike Kilgore has watched Malden go 15-8 despite a 2-3 record against district opponents. 

“East Prairie was a tough team to draw,” Kilgore said. “They provide tough 1-5 matchups so we will have to be ready to play great defense to slow them down. 

“We want to enter the tournament playing a nice style of basketball.  It’s the last stretch of the season and I hope we come out and focus on what our goal has been all season.  All of the teams are strong and fundamental … we are looking to have some fun and compete at a high level.” 

CLASS 3 DISTRICT 3

At Arcadia Valley 

Monday

First round 

4 St. Pius X (Festus) vs. 5 Arcadia Valley, 7:30 

2 Jefferson (Festus) vs. 7 Grandview, 4:30 

3 Kingston vs. 6 CLEARWATER, 6 

Wednesday

Semifinals 

1 West County vs. St. Pius X/Arcadia Valley winner, 5:30 

2/7 winner vs. 3/6 winner, 7 

Friday

Championship, 7 

NOTES: The Tigers of Clearwater are 11-14 and have played well after a midseason slump that followed a strong start. 

“We only played one team in our district and that was Arcadia Valley and we lost to them twice,” Clearwater head coach Zac Moore said. “We are starting to hit our stride as the playoffs begin. We have won two straight and hope to make it three after playing Ellington on Friday night.  

“We were the sixth seed in the OFC tournament and knocked off the No. 3 seed Neelyville, so we know that on any given night anything is possible.” 

Clearwater plays Kingston who had won four straight heading into the end of the week.