POWER 8: Greenville boys basketball roars into poll’s 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.

District tournaments are in full swing for Class 1, 2 and 3 basketball teams, while the Poplar Bluffs, Doniphans and Dexters are all about getting ready to roll next week in their own postseason journeys.

Doniphan’s girls took a hit last week and tumble from the top spot as a new leader takes poll position among the power brokers.

Three Rivers baseball and softball have also begun as the prep seasons close in within three weeks.

The drama at the top could get even dicier with increased sports in the fold come March.

Yes, we’re looking at you track and field, soccer, golf and tennis.

Week 8: POWER 8

1) Greenville boys basketball (2, last week): After playing Puxico Wednesday night (result not used for this poll) the Bears standing could be solidified or shaken depending on how those two battled it out in a District semifinal game. Regardless, they are two wins away from a historic season and that would be on the backs of the most likely greatest team ever for the program. They are doing it with a short bench that doesn’t seem to impact these hard-wired competitors from finding ways to win, even when pushed to the limit. Now, the question is, will we be talking about a sectional playoff game in next week’s poll?

2) Three Rivers women’s basketball (3): They took down a plucky Jefferson team and rolled past Crowder, who they played Wednesday night, with a chance to win themselves into a winner-take-all showdown at Moberly on Saturday. The nation’s No. 19 team Lady Raiders win that and they are the Region XVI top seed and that means something when one speaks of going to a national tournament.

3) Doniphan girls basketball (1): It was a nice run at the top and it could still be there for the taking when the summer Top 10 teams of the year poll gets released, but they took a 60-50 defeat to South Iron last weekend that saw them try to rally for the second time that week after doing the same against Chadwick days earlier. It was a rough go against two quality small school programs and might have been the boost of ‘oh my,’ the Donettes needed to take their game to another level.

4) Ellington girls basketball (4): Tonight, the Lady Whippets will make their case for another trip to the state finals when they take on host Van Buren in a district semifinal. Awaiting them is an improving East Carter squad that is hoping for revenge from a loss after Christmas. Kaylee King and Dylan Price are a strong 1-2 combo and the rest of the squad continues to evolve. A state finals game 3-peat perhaps?

5) Poplar Bluff wrestling (6): It was the boys turn to make their case for the state finals this weekend and three of them punched their tickets. It’s one of the bigger wrestling accomplishments in program history and head coach Kelton Thompson will go Columbia with five total grapplers in tow and all of which have strong shots at bringing medals back home.

6) Neelyville girls basketball (7): They open up district action tonight and should be heavily favored to advance to a Saturday final. The Lady Tigers gave South Iron fits last week and probably had an argument they could have won if not for a number of missed chippies and some too-quick officiating whistles on steals that were turned into jump balls mysteriously enough. Either way, this young group is going to get nothing but better.

7) Doniphan boys basketball (5): They got clobbered by Sikeston — no real polite way to say it — but that doesn’t mean this squad isn’t a district title threat next week. The Dons have been playing higher level ball this past month and should be a scary proposition for the host Dexter boys next week with a trip to the sectionals on the line.

8) Three Rivers softball (new): They only leapfrogged their baseball brethren on campus because of one tiebreaker: Road games. Both the softball and baseball schools are 4-2 overall right now, but the women have done their business on the road, while the men have benefitted from playing three of their games at home to start the year. Either way, this group performed well in Mississippi to start the campaign and both could be fun to watch.

Honorable mention: Dexter boys basketball, Three Rivers baseball, Dexter girls basketball, Puxico boys basketball, Malden boys basketball, East Carter girls basketball, Dexter wrestling, Poplar Bluff girls 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.