Missouri coaches take first leap into the all-state mix

The Missouri High School Football Coaches Association released its first all-state teams earlier this week, honoring seven Central players in the process.

The poll came out just two weeks after the annual Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association honored three Tigers.

The coaches' association has been in existence for 28 years but recently decided to release its own team.

"When you get down to Xs and Os -- the little things about the game -- the coaches are a little more attuned to it than sports writers," said Chuck Lliteras, president of the coaches association and coach at Fort Osage.

Only 175 of the 320 Missouri State High School Activities Association members belong to the coaches' association, which was a prerequisite for having players named to the coach's all-state team. The media all-state teams encompass all 320 teams.

The offensive accomplishments of Central's Monroe Hicks were recognized by the coaches association, which selected him a Class 4 first-team running back. Hicks, who had more than 2,100 yards combined rushing and receiving his senior season, recently repeated as a first-team all-state safety on the media teams.

The coaches also selected Tiger senior linebacker Jeremiah Dukes to the first team along with senior offensive lineman Adrian Wren. Tiger junior kicker Colin Schermann was placed on the second team and three juniors were honorable mention --quarterback Mitch Craft, offensive lineman Patrick Slattery and punter Clay Schermann.

Other area Class 4 players chosen were Poplar Bluff receiver Tony Webb (first team), Sikeston linebacker Jacob Priday (second team) and Perryville offensive lineman Zach Leible (second team).

In Class 2, area picks were Caruthersville running back Jimmy Jackson (second team), Charleston running back Orrice Stanback (second team), Caruthersville quarterback Rogers VanAusdall (honorable mention) and Caruthersville receiver Chris Springer (honorable mention).

In Class 1, area players include Hayti running back Jason Covington (first team), Hayti offensive lineman Jordan McCray (first team), Hayti defensine lineman Antonio Robinson (first team), Hayti receiver William Moore (second team), St. Vincent offensive lineman Matt Wengert (honorable mention) and St. Vincent punter Zach Moll (honorable mention).

Delta, Advance coaches approach big victories

Delta coach Randy White will go for his 300th career win tonight when the Bobcats visit Charleston. White is in his second year at Delta after a long stay at Scott City. He led Delta to a district title in his first year and has the Bobcats off to a 6-0 start and No. 3 ranking in the Class 1 state poll.

Advance coach Jim Hall's quest for win No. 500 was put in the deep freeze last week. Snow and ice forced the cancellation of the Hornets' game at Puxico this past Friday. The Hornets will try to get their coach, sitting on win No. 499, his 500th win Friday at Scott City.

Central players plan to fly south for the winter

A group of Central baseball players will be making an annual pilgrimage to the North Florida Winter Baseball School at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla., over the holidays.

Central coach Steve Williams said eight or nine players will be heading for the one-week camp, which runs Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. While some Tiger players usually attend, Williams said this is one of the bigger groups going this year.

"A lot of parents use that as a Christmas present," Williams said.

The camp is directed by coach Dave Barnett of Flagler College and features professional instructors and college baseball coaches.

Players will take a crash course in baseball with drills and position work in the mornings, games and teamwork drills in the afternoon and question-and-answer sessions in the evenings.

"It's a lot of baseball," Williams said. "It's very well run and a very good camp."

Christmas tournaments serve up variety of games

Twin Rivers (5-1) is the top seed in the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament, which begins Dec. 26. Dexter (2-2), the second seed, handed Twin Rivers its first loss Tuesday night, 50-49.

The other teams in the field, by seed: Kennett, Portageville, East Carter County, Doniphan, Bloomfield, Hayti, Malden, South Pemiscot, Bernie, Van Buren, Puxico, Greenville, East Prairie and Richland.

Semifinals are Dec. 28 and the championship at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 30.

At Park Hills, DeSoto is the top boys seed for the Bob Sechrest Jr. Central Christmas Tournament, which starts Dec. 26 and ends Dec. 31. The rest of the field, in order: North County, Arcadia Valley, Herculaneum, Festus, Farmington, Grandview, Fredericktown, Viburnum, Perryville, Potosi, West County, Park Hills Central, South Iron, Valle Catholic and Marquand.

The girls bracket starts with St. James at No. 1 followed by Park Hills Central, Fredericktown, Bismarck, Potosi, Arcadia Valley, South Iron and Herculaneum.

At Poplar Bluff, first-round games are Dec. 26 in the annual Poplar Bluff Showdown at the Black River Coliseum. The opening round: Little Rock (Ark.) Parkview vs. Columbia Hickman, 4 p.m.; Vashon vs. Memphis Central, 5:30; Poplar Bluff vs. Memphis Hillcrest, 7; and Meridian (Miss.) vs. Little Rock Mills, 8:30. Finals are Dec. 28.

Vashon has won the past three years.