Gramp's Braggin' Rights Missouri HS girls basketball ratings - Class Four
FINAL UPDATE MARCH 17TH, 2024
I am not sure I have seen such equity at the top of class six, five. four and even small school teams in both boys and girls in my recent memory. On the boys side, Vashon (class 4), and New Madrid County Central (class three), could both compete with the best of class five and six. In fact, Vashon was probably, hands-down, the best team in the state.
On the girls side, Platte Valley, Delta and Meadville (class 1), Skyline and Tipton (both class 2), Fair Grove and El Dorado Springs (class 3), and Lift for Life and Chillicothe (class 4), could all compete with the big schools in class five and six. There is such a level of excellence at the top of all Missouri classes, which just speaks to the excellence of basketball development around the state.
Lift for Life was almost in a class by themselves in class four, losing only Alton Illinois, to class six Hickman and to class five state champion, John Burroughs, winning by 22 and 29, before running into a fantastic squad from Chillicothe, who came back to tie the game and take it to overtime. Lift for Life eventually won by eight, but not without some serious sweating it out by Coach Chantell Polk and her squad. The Lady Hawks pulled away to win the state title with an 18 point win over a sound Park Hills Central team.
Chillicothe was undefeated vs. Missouri teams until they lost to Lift for Life in overtime. Their only other defeat in a 28-2 season was to an Iowan team, Waukee Northwest. A fine season for the Lady Hornets. With only four seniors graduating, look for these gals to be back in the championship mix next year.
Congrats to Lift for Life on their second state championship.
Updated March 12, 2024
If ever there was a reason to look at changing the state tournament and district seeding arrangement, you don't have to look much further than Doniphan, who ended the season at 25-1 with a two point loss to Cape Notre Dame. Take a look at my class six boys state playoff proposal and put it to use in the girls class four.
I don't know. Maybe having the best teams in the quarterfinals isn't important. Besides, Lift for Life is so good, it might not matter. But then again, a team like Doniphan might have made the final four with a different district and state bracket?
Here's my Class Four Missouri Girls with Lift for Life, Chillicothe, Park Hills Central and Owensville the four remaining teams.
Updated February 28th, 2024
I have updated the Class Four Girls basketball ratings by district.
Updated February 15th, 2024
I am getting up at 4am for a flight to paradise so I am a day late and a dollar short on the Class Four Missouri Girls ratings. I have to admit that I have updated the top 20 but not the rest of the field but I wanted to put out the District placements before districts begin on February 27th when I get back.
It is a crowded field behind front runner Lift for Life.
The state brackets will have Districts 1-4 with Park Hills Central, Doniphan, Cape Notre Dame, Ursuline Academy and St. James, all top ten teams, fighting it out. Districts 9-12 will have Logans-Rogersville and Aurora fighting it out. Look for a team from Districts 1-4 in the final.
The lower bracket will have District 5-8 and 13-16, with Lift for Life to get by U City and be a clear favorite to face Moberly (over opening round opponent MICDS) in one quarterfinal and Chillicothe facing Notre Dame De Sion or Nevada.
Look for Lift For Life to win for the second time (2021 their first title).
District winners are predicted below:
- District 1: Doniphan or Cape Notre Dame could be in the state final but one will only be district-runnerup
- District 2: Park Hills Central is a clear favorite and might go all the way for a state title.
- District 3: St James is a solid favorite and could make noise at state
- District 4: Ursuline Academy is the favorite
- District 5: Lift for Life goes all the way
- District 6: U City is solid
- District 7: MICDS wins out in a competitive district
- District 8: Moberly is a prohibitive favorite
- District 9: Boonville has the edge over Clinton
- District 10: Owensville, Southern Boone, Eldon and Osage have an equal chance to win
- District 11: Log-Rog has the edge over Mountain Grove
- District 12: Aurora over Monett
- District 13: Pick-Em, Notre Dame De Sion and Nevada battle
- District 14: Oak Grove wins the weakest district but it is still a title
- District 15: St. Pius X KC wins out
- District 16: Battle of the best... Chillicothe has to take down St. Joes Lafayette and Benton
Updated January 12, 2024
Lift for Life leads Gramp's Braggin' Rights Missouri Class Four Girls basketball ratings for mid-January. #1 Doniphan in the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association poll comes in at #5 in Gramps statistical ratings. Chillicothe looks very good in District 16 but the coaches have totally ignored Logan-Rogersville, who comes in at #3 in the Gramps ratings. Ursuline Academy is #4 in Gramps ratings vs. #7 in the MBCA.
Another neglected school is the Park Hills Central Rebels (or whatever you called them). Vashon, at #11 in the Gramps poll, appears to be coming on, and Kennett, St. Joseph Lafayette, MICDS, Notre Dame de Sion, and St. Pius X KC should all get more respect. And I am not sure why the coaches are mentioning Camerson and forgetting Savannah in District 16 after Savannah laid a nineteen-point loss on Cameron.
One team that I am sincerely excited about (no sarcasm here at all) is the Guadalupe Centers Charter which restarted girls basketball this year. They started at a 15 rating and have made consistent improvement to almost a 30 rating. I think it is important to set realistic goals and look for ways to measure success and the Lady Aztecs are 1-9 but they are making games closer each time. Hats off to these young gals who are looking for more success down the road.
As we look down the road to state tournament time, again, the two best teams, Lift for Life and Chillicothe are headed for a semi-final game rather than a state championship match-up. Just the way the cookie crumbles in MSHSAA's well-thought-out playoff setup.
Edited 12/14/2023 9pm - If Gramps was smarter, he would wait for more games to be played out. Like tonight's Lift for Life and Ursuline contest at Orchard Farm. But I don't mind being wrong. Grama lets me know on most days.
It is a topsy-turvy Missouri class four girls basketball rating to start Gramps Braggin' Rights.
Last year, Vashon rolled through the state brackets and then won a close contest with St. Joseph Benton, 79-77, in two overtimes. It is really early to know how these ratings will shake out by February or March, but right now Vashon is #11 and Benton #15. The two other semi-finalists, Park Hills Central and Southern Boone are at #13 and #25 respectively.
Things could change dramatically with more games in the statistical ratings model.
It was hard when I posted this, to tell how good Ursuline Academy and Lift for Life were this morning, but they played tonight, and Lift for Life beat Ursuline by 21 after a close first half. I thought Ursuline might be ready for a deep run into the state tournament after a 17-11 winning record last year, but Lift for Life looks to be the real deal with two great guards in Cara and Amaya Manuel and an immovable power forward in La'Niya Starks. Those three seem unstoppable.
Ursuline lost to Lift for Life in the District 4 championship last March, as Lift for Life (14-16 record) made a last-season run to the fourth-place finish, losing by 4 to Park Hills Central. Lift for Life is no slouch, having won the 2021 state championship on a nine-game winning streak after being 6-11 at midseason. Look for Lift for Life to make a long run in the play-offs.
Cape Girardeau Notre Dame was fourth in class five last year and dropped down to vie for a class four title. They have won 108 games in the last five years and are looking for another 22+ win season and state glory. Chillicothe lost to Benton in the District 16 championship game by 11 and hopes to take revenge this season after a remarkable 23-5 season last year. They have won 103 games in the past five years. Logan-Rogersville was only 14-14 last year but looking to return to 2019 form when they were third at state. University City was 20-7 last year, losing a close one, 59-58 to Lutheran North in the District 6 tournament. They look tough this year. Finally, St. James and Doniphan have started well and look to improve on their top ten rating.
Should be an exciting class four season.
Posted 12/13/2023
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