POWER 8: New team tops this week’s poll

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.

A lot of teams have seen their seasons end so that will drastically affect the current Power 8 poll, but fret not — a team that loses can still be in the poll one last time before falling out permanently and can be considered for the end-of-the-year Team of the Year top 10 countdown.

The top two teams were knocked out in intense fashion while Doniphan’s girls hoops appear locked and loaded to make a big postseason run as they reclaim the top spot once again after departing for a week.

And of course, East Carter’s girls team is an explosive entry into the poll as their recent run of excellence has set them up for a state quarterfinal game on Saturday.

Week 9: POWER 8

1) Doniphan girls basketball (3, last week): The Donettes will open up district playoff play Thursday against host Dexter and they roll in following an intense overtime win over a solid Jackson squad in Doniphan last Friday. This is a team that can defend, defend — and oh, by the way, defend. That comes in handy in the playoffs when the offense bogs down and the Donettes can hit the shooting slumps here and there. They go 10-deep and can be scary good. Can they finish their Power 8 run as a No. 1? Time will tell.

2) Three Rivers women’s basketball (2): OK, yes, they lost last week again to Moberly, but this time it was in overtime and on the road, so does a 22-4 nationally-ranked squad drop? Nah. They will be the No. 2 seed in next week’s Region XVI tournament and two wins will secure another national tournament spot, but a wildcard berth is still very much in the offing.

3) East Carter girls basketball (new): Um, everyone say, ‘wow.’ The Lady Redbirds have mos def shaken off that midseason slump that started after New Year’s and have figured themselves out. They just beat Ellington in an instant classic shootout , then on Tuesday gutted out a low-scoring affair against Ozark Foothills Conference rivals Neelyville to advance to Saturday’s quarterfinal in Farmington. Senior Brooklyn Kearbey is off the charts and seems relaxed after signing with her future college a few weeks ago, twin towers Breanna Dohleman and Parker Golden are getting things done in a myriad of ways inside and Anna Crowley is adding a level of toughness that can always come in handy. Can they make it to Springfield? The Power 8 says yes.

4) Greenville boys basketball (1): How do you wrap up the talk about a wonderful Bears team? Put this in perspective: They played a game that was much less than their season standard in losing the district final to Advance and still were only a few points from being a Sweet 16 team. Advance did some nice things, but the missed open jumpers, fumbled passes and loose ball handling happened with little Hornets pressure and a bunch of young men did everything they could to make history. If they had played 50 percent to their season standard they likely win by 20 points. Nothing that happened last weekend takes away the fact the team was a treat to watch, cover and hope for. Let’s look forward to more in 2023-24.

5) Dexter boys basketball (new): Oh, why not? They are still alive going into Wednesday night’s Class 4 District 1 tournament at home and their ability to score in the millions (OK, a little exaggerated — thousands, we mean), is a scary proposition for the rest of the teams in the field. Can they finally get past the district round after three straight final losses? It’s possible.

6) Doniphan boys basketball (7): The Dons might have something to say against Dexter’s chances as they also open up playoff action tonight in Dexter. This is an intriguing team. They always play good basketball because they guys know how to put themselves to work and are well-coached. It just doesn’t always translate into a win. They are a scary out because if both sides of the ball are clicking, they are a legitimate threat to get hot and beat a lot of people.

7) Neelyville girls basketball (6): What a fun team and it’s scary to think that these girls will mostly be back after a resurrecting 19-9 campaign. East Carter really found a way to slow Neelyville’s roll after a strong start to Tuesday’s sectional game in Sikeston and the Lady Redbirds pulled away. But they are stocked with Jade Crosswhite, Layni Dobbins and Parker Ernst. They are another bunch of young Lady Tigers that might make the argument they could be one of the few favorites to claim the OFC crown. To think, Doniphan, East Carter and Neelyville are all going to have a lot returning and be that much better? My shivers have timbers that have shivers.

8) Ellington girls basketball (4): If a team that lost deserves to have won, it’s Ellington. They fell 77-70 in a legendary district final when East Carter used its exceptional scoring depth to counter Kaylee King in what was her last high school game, junior Dylan Price and a bunch of other Lady Whippets that brought effort and energy every night. The rise of Sadie Lloyd is a curious watch heading into 2023-24. Price and Lloyd will be the new leaders and let’s hope they can thicken the roster because those two young ladies alone offer plenty of hope for a program that might end up being more than King going forward. But she will be missed and the best will be wished as she heads to NCAA Division II Southwest Baptist.

Honorable mention: Dexter girls basketball, Poplar Bluff wrestling, Three Rivers softball, Puxico boys basketball, 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 and Greenville boys basketball.

Alan Dale is the sports editor of the Daily American Republic. Contact him at adale@darnews.com.