Zalma will have new basketball coach for third straight year

~ Steve Wells to lead the Bulldogs next season.

The annual coaching shuffle for area boys basketball teams continues this offseason, with Zalma recently hiring a new coach and Woodland currently without a coach.

Zalma's boys basketball team will have its third coach in three years next season when Steve Wells takes over the program.

Wells was hired to take over for Chris Miller, who left the program after one season to take over at Ellington. Wells, who coached at Milan High School this past season, previously coached at Puxico and Scott County Central.

Woodland boys basketball coach David Mirly recently resigned following his fourth season in charge of the Cardinals.

The Cardinals finished 7-17 this past season and were a combined 12-36 the past two seasons. Woodland is a Class 3 school in basketball and plays in the same district as Charleston.

Woodland R-IV School District superintendent Dennis Parham said the school could have a new coach in place by the middle of May.

Kelly recently filled its boys basketball vacancy with Bell City native Nate Wills.

Slattery to sign with MAC

Central senior Blake Slattery will add to the Tigers' list of baseball signees, as he announced he will sign a letter of intent with Mineral Area College.

Slattery will join Jackson senior Logan Lawson among area players to sign with the Park Hills, Mo., school. Central graduate Ty Craft and Notre Dame graduate Shane Menz are both playing their freshman seasons for Mineral Area this season.

This season Slattery has been the Tigers' most prolific hitter, leading the team in batting average, RBIs, home runs, doubles and triples.

Basketball all-star game

Four area all-state basketball players will take part in the 2007 Missouri Basketball All-star Games at Drury University.

The games will be played June 1 at Weiser Gym on the campus of Drury University. The event will feature four games, a 3-point contest, slam dunk contest and will also feature a presentation honoring the newest members of the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association's Hall of Fame.

Advance senior Alex Steil will play in the Class 1-3 game, which also features the Charleston trio of Shawn Sherrell, Justin Clark and Jamarcus Williams as well as Malden's Alonzo Louis.

Delta senior Kaci Menz and Scott County Central senior Brittney Peet will play in the Class 1-3 girls game. Menz and Peet will be teammates next year after signing with Three Rivers Community College in the offseason.

Notre Dame senior Kristain Burger will play in the Class 4-5 game. Burger helped the Bulldogs win a district title this past season.

Girls soccer poll

Notre Dame moved up to No. 6 in the second Class 1 top 15 poll released by the Missouri Soccer Coaches Association.

The Bulldogs were ranked No. 10 in the first poll. Notre Dame is 12-2-1 and unbeaten in its last eight games.

Jackson (11-2-2) maintained its ranking at No. 11 in the Class 2 poll.

Oran's Michelsen signs

Oran senior Erica Michelsen signed with Lindenwood University to play basketball next year.

Linendwood is an NAIA school in St. Charles, Mo. Michelsen is a three-time all-region and all-conference selection, and twice received all-district honors.

"A student-athlete with Erica's ability to excel in multiple areas is bound to be successful at the collegiate level," Lindenwood coach Chanda Jackson said in a release. "We look forward to her being part of our program."