Top 25 Missouri high school boys basketball rankings (1/3/2024)

Check out this week's Missouri boys basketball rankings

Author:
Cody Thorn
Publish date:
Jan 3, 2024 6:42 PM EST

Top-ranked Oak Park took care of business at the William Jewell Holiday Classic before the end of 2023, winning three more games and taking the title in the Patterson Division.

Battle makes a big move in this week's rankings after winning the Holley Division at the William Jewell Holiday Classic, including an impressive win over North Kansas City in the title game.

Here is our breakdown of this week's SBLive Power 25 Missouri high school boys basketball rankings:

PREVIOUS RANKINGS: DECEMBER 22

Missouri high school boys basketball rankings

January 3, 2024

1. Oak Park (9-1)

Previous rank: 1

The Northmen topped Webster Groves in Kansas City on Dec. 22 by seven and then went 3-0 to take first place in the William Jewell Holiday Classic Dec. 27-30. Corbin Allen dropped 23 in the Patterson Division championship game against Blue Springs.

2. Vashon (7-3)

Previous rank: 2

The Wolverines went 2-2 while playing in Hawaii before the Christmas break. Trey Williams Jr. scored

a season-high 31 points in a 77-48 win over Atlanta Pace Academy on Dec. 22.

3. Chaminade (7-1)

The Red Devils have stayed hot, winning five in a row heading into the new year. They knocked off top-25 ranked Father Tolton on Dec. 30, 55-52, behind 13 points from Colin Keller.

4. Cardinal Ritter (3-5)

Previous rank: 4

The Lions have played only one Missouri team so far, beating University City. Since then, they’ve played teams from Illinois, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Arkansas and California. Ritter returns to action on Jan. 5 vs. Duchesne.

5. Kickapoo (10-1)

Previous rank: 6

Jackson Shorter had 19 points and nearly outscored Joplin himself in a 60-20 win on Dec. 22. The Chiefs won seven in a row heading into the break.

6. St. Mary’s (16-1)

Previous rank: 7

How did the Dragons respond to the first loss of the season? Well, 11 days after their first loss they won 109-27 against Kairos Christian at a game in Farmington. In an 86-78 win over Hazelwood East on Dec. 29, Zyree Collins scored 46 points.

7. Battle (10-2)

Previous rank: 11

The Spartans have won five in a row and went 3-0 at the William Jewell Holiday Classic, beating previous No. 3-ranked North Kansas City in the finals. Tate McCubbin was named the Holley Division MVP, scoring 58 points in three games.

8. North Kansas City (8-2)

Previous rank: 3

After a loss on Dec. 16, the Hornets went 2-1 at the William Jewell Holiday Classic in Liberty. They reached the finals but lost to Battle, 63-49.

9. New Madrid County Central (9-1)

Previous rank: 9

The Eagles scored 80 or more in all three games at the Poplar Bluff Showdown and topped Vilonia, Ark., in the finals 88-67 on Dec. 30. Jadis Jones scored 37 and 35 in the final two games.

10. Springfield Central (8-1)

Previous rank: 10

The junior scored a game-high 29 points to help the Bulldogs beat Glendale, 77-47, in the Gold Division finals in the Blue & Gold Tournament in Springfield. It was the Bulldogs’ first title in the event since 1983. The Bulldogs have won seven in a row.

11. Sikeston (11-0)

Previous rank: 14

The Bulldogs won their third tournament title of the year by capturing the St. Dominic Christmas Tournament crown on Friday with an 85-57 win over St. Dominic. Dontrez Williams had 26 points and 12 rebounds in the win.

12. Webster Groves (8-3)

Previous rank: 15

The Statesmen lost to No. 1 Oak Park in the Twelve Courts of Christmas Event on Dec. 22 in Kansas City. However, the squad bounced back with four wins in a row at the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament at Maryville University. Freshman point guard Scottie Adkinson scored 20 in a 60-55 win over De Smet.

13. Nixa (9-3)

Previous rank: 13

The Eagles repeated as the champion of the Blue & Gold Tournament, claiming the Blue division with a 59-48 win over Republic. Three players scored in double figures, led by Devon Kemp’s 14.

14. Vianney (8-2)

Previous rank: 8

The Golden Griffins went 2-2 at the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament, held Dec. 27-30 at Maryville University. Vianney’s win streak reached eight games before losing to Metro Catholic Conference foe De Smet in the semifinals and then Hickman in the third-place game.

15. Ladue (10-0)

Previous rank: 18

The Rams won the title at the MICDS Tournament to stay unbeaten. A big win came in the semis against host MICDS when they rallied from an 18-point third quarter deficit. Sam Goellner scored 20 points in the dramatic comeback victory.

16. Park Hills Central (11-1)

Previous rank: 16

The Rebels have won 10 in a row now and dominated the 68th annual Bob Sechrest Jr. Central Christmas Tournament. It was Central’s first back-to-back titles in a tournament since 2014-15 and 2015-16. Jobe Bryant scored 35 in a semifinal win against Hillsboro on Dec. 29.

17. Parkview (7-4)

Previous rank: 17

A trip to Arkansas resulted in a 2-1 showing for the Vikings, ending with a 52-51 win over Fort Smith Northside behind a last-second 3-pointer by Christian Cordova.

18. Lindbergh (10-1)

Previous rank: 12

The Flyers went 3-1 at the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament after the Christmas break. Zac Goss is hitting 50 percent of his shots from the field and leading the Flyers with 17 points per game.

19. St. Francis Borgia (10-0)

Previous rank: 19

The Knights have won the Borgia Turkey Tournament and St. Charles West Tournament. They capped the December portion of the schedule with a close win over Westminster Christian Academy, 54-49, on Dec. 19. The Knights play Lutheran St. Charles and Montgomery County this week.

20. Staley (6-3)

Previous rank: 21

After a loss to No. 1 Oak Park, the Falcons rebounded with three straight victories to win the Nelson Division championship at the William Jewell Holiday Classic. Avian Webb scored 55 in the tournament, earning MVP honors.

21. Lee’s Summit West (8-2)

Previous rank: 20

The Titans have won six in a row since a loss to Fayetteville, Ark., on Dec. 7. Before the Christmas break, Lee’s Summit West beat Rockhurst and Liberty North.

22. Grandview (6-2)

Previous rank: 22

Josiah Kirkwood is a returning all-stater and a key player for the Bulldogs this year. Grandview had been idle since Dec 15.

23. South Iron (13-1)

Previous rank: 23

A 19-game winning streak dating back to last year for the Class 1 champions ended with a 49-48 loss to Farmington in the 68th Annual Bob Sechrest Jr. Central Christmas Tournament on Dec. 29.

24. John Burroughs (9-2)

Previous rank: 24

The Bombers went 3-0 at the Legends of Winter Roundball Classic after Christmas, beating Pattonville, SLUH and Hazelwood Central. In the latter, sophomore forward Tristan Reed hit 13 of 19 shots and finished with a game-high 29 points.

25. Father Tolton (5-4)

Previous rank: 25

The Trailblazers bounced back from a slow start with three straight wins but then lost by three, 55-52, to No. 3 Chaminade on Dec. 30.

Vote for the SBLive Sports Athlete of the Week

Webster Groves senior forward Iziah Purvey

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- Cody Thorn | latsch@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveMiz