POWER 8: Donettes ride strong OFC Tournament performance into top spot

Editor’s note: This poll was based on results through Wednesday. All rankings are performance-based per level and sport and not a head-to-head potential barometer.

Crazy to think that the newest spring season is a month away and basketball and wrestling are now winding down.

The Power 8 is about to undergo some major shifts in the next few weeks and It can only mean plenty of exciting results are on the horizon.

Week 8: POWER 8

1) Doniphan girls basketball (1, last week): When you beat Neelyville 59-29 in the Ozark Foothills Conference tournament final like the Donettes did last weekend at Three Rivers College, you have to be the No. 1 team. Neelyville is as tough as they come and the Doniphan girls flexed their muscles in such impressive ways that now it must be said that this squad has as good a chance as any to make a state-run.

2) Greenville boys basketball (2): The legend of this team rang true when they rallied from 10 points down late to win the Ozark Foothills Conference tournament at Three Rivers College Friday night in an overtime classic. From Ty Huffmaster hitting a number of sahots in traffic to Easton Evans hitting a cold-blooded, step-back, tying three right before the buzzer to send the game into the extra session, these Bears are as tough as beef jerky and as determined as a bull in a Krogers.

3) Three Rivers women’s basketball (3): It was a nice bounce back for the Lady Raiders who put State Fair on ice last weekend and are now the 19th-ranked team in the nation. The biggie was Wednesday night at Mineral Area College in hopes of winning the season series and aiming for the Region XVI top spot in the postseason tournament.

4) Ellington girls basketball (5): Oh, oh. Now Dylan Price is back and the junior has already made her impressions becoming the first non-Kaylee King player to lead the team in scoring with a 29-point flourish against Alton on Monday. The two-time championship game participant will be looking for another big run and likely would hope to inflict some revenge on teams that might have beaten them earlier this season if only they were Class 2 or 3 too. This team will be a scary one when the districts begin.

5) Doniphan boys basketball (8): What a great performance in losing the OFC title. If a team can be any bigger a winner when getting beaten it’s the Dons. They did everything in their power to win and in most situations, they would have beaten anymore. The squad went toe-to-toe with one of the better teams in the region and made a big case for a potential state title run.

6) Poplar Bluff wrestling (7): The Lady Mules advanced two sophomores to state in Zoe Freeman and Kayleigh Dazey and now the boys hit the mat this weekend and that squad has plenty of hope for multiple grapplers heading to the state finals next weekend.

7) Neelyville girls basketball (4): Tough week. The Lady Tigers dropped two to two of the better teams in the state – Doniphan in the OFC title game and then a competitive affair Tuesday night against visiting South Iron. The team can defend with anyone, but the offense tends to wax and wane, but this young squad can go for broke and that in itself can be very scary.

8) Three Rivers baseball (new): It’s really early but taking two of three from North Iowa Area CC was a nice 180 from last year’s 1-2 mark against the same team. The Raiders seem deeper on the bump than in years past and the offense found ways early to create runs, including a walk-off win in the season opener.

Honorable mention: Dexter girls basketball, Puxico boys basketball, Malden boys basketball, Poplar Bluff girls swimming; East Carter girls basketball; Twin Rivers boys basketball

Considering for final poll: Poplar Bluff football, Van Buren cross country, Dexter cross country, Neelyville softball, Doniphan softball, Poplar Bluff cheer.

Alan Dale is the sports editor of the Daily American Republic. Contact him at adale@darnews.com.