Turn the page...it's DO or DIE time..PUT UP or SHUT UP time..WIN or GO HOME time...it's District Basketball Time. The Excitement generated comes to a thrilling head this week in districts all around the State. Some may have several great teams, some will have one person riding the FAVORITE horse,  and maybe a couple districts are really up for grabs. Some thoughts..

Toughest District- Class 5 District 11 at Ozark !  ON the girls side, the #1 & #2 ranked girls teams in the state will be collecting equipment after district! Nixa (#1, 20-2) knocked off the Chiefs (#2,19-3) 52-31 on Dec 30. Nixa lost the next night to Midwest City Oklahoma. So....neither team has lost in 09 !  The Boys Side of the Bracket is loaded! Check out these records- #1 seed-Branson Pirates(24-1) , #2 seed-Ozark Tigers(16-9) , #3 Nixa(19-6), #4 Kickapoo(17-7),  #5 Glendale(19-6). That's right-- 19 wins and seeded #5.  Where do you start? Branson is led by the high scoring duo of Tate Unruh and Michael Wiebe (both right at 18.8ppg). They've won 18 straight, won the Central Ozark Conference for the first time since 92-93 but there are doubters. Ozark draws some favor since they're on their own home court. Nixa has 19 wins (you can't take them away) but some wonder that they may have peaked too soon? Kickapoo's Roy Green is hanging up the whistle this year will that emotion allow a talented Chief team to get over the hump? Glendale recently destroyed Rolla HS 96-66, after the rankings and showed a real "chip" on their shoulder over the rankings--will it carry over? 

How About Class 5 District 6 ? This is the Suburban North conference teams seeing each other for the upteenth time. Hazelwood Central enters into the fraay with the best mark 23-3 - a outside marksman (Bryce Foster), Connell Crossland (fleet footed postman who prefers perimeter play, a slick point guard (Curtis Churcman) and a very deep and talented bench. McCluer's Comets and Lonnie & Shaquille Boga and Jerrell Partlow are 22-4 and lead the Sub North in scoring for the year. McCluer North is 19-5 with impressive wins this week over Chaminade and Jennings. These championships will be on Prepcasts on Saturday.

Double your pleasure....Class 5 District 5 may likely be a  girls-boy doubleheader between Lafayette and Parkway South for the Championship Crowns. Hear it on www.prepcasts.com

The #3-Ritenour & #4-DeSmet seeded teams in Class 5, District 4 should provided for GREAT semifinal games in this district. MCC Rivals-Chaminade & CBC (who split OT games this year) are seeded 1-2 respectively.  In this same district on the ladies side, IWA looks to keep their success against St Joseph rolling. The Red Knights will tangle with the Angels for the 3rd time this year on Friday and hope that 3 is a charm for them to advance. Hear These Championships on Prepcasts on Friday.

Ft Zumwalt West has many thinking that they'll walk home with both girls & boys district titles in Class 5, District 8. The girls of Monica Tritz appear to have an easier time of it than their male counterparts. Hear it on www.prepcasts.com . The Jags could both be facing the Oakville Tigers. Clearly the Tiger Boys are the favorite. The Lady Tigers have a strong Lindbergh Flyer team to upend. I'm going with the upset.

In Class 4, District 1 I think the district winners could both end up in Columbia. Dexter Girls (21-) is the early favorite but has Cape-ND to hurdle in districts and Farmington in Sectionals.   On the Boys side, Sikeston's wide open, tremendous win over Scott County showed the skills that the Bulldogs own. Look for them in Columbia also.

District 3 is really wide open. On the boys side, I think we could have a rematch of the early-out game of 2 weeks ago between St Marys & DuBourg.  The Cavaliers are in a tail-spin --dropping 6 straight- so I'm going with the Dragons. The Girls side, I like the short but gritty Notre Dame Rebels(14-12). If the lone senior, Ashley Giffen heals up to play in districts the Rebel's chances would skyrocket since Giffen was a crucial scorer, rebounder, steals, assists and obviously the "go to" person.

Class 4 District 11, the Republic Girls riding high after toppling state ranked Webb City is seeded #2 recently. I'm calling for an upset for the Tigers over Aurora (seeded #1)in this District being hosted at Cassville.

Class 4 District 6 boys should really see a dog-fight between four teams! Clayton is 18-8 but star post player- Syd Warner has been ill recently. His full recovery is essential to advance even though DeVonte Bell is something special for the Greyhounds. Jennings is 17-9 with D'Shaun Cooper as the straw to stir the offensive mix for the Warriors. Cooper can take over a game at any point and BE the offense. Berkley has been under the radar all year. Coach Gerald Jones has his 14-9 team eager to surprise teams in this district. Jr Gerald Jones (Jr) & Doug Wallace (SR) will need big nights to make it happen.  MICDS is 14-10 but is coming off an 0-2 week. The Rams have Michael Scott who continues to improve and McPherson Moore to spearhead the offense. Hear these championships on Prepcasts.com on Friday night from MICDS.