Class 3 final four glance

Saxony Lutheran

Led by a group of eight seniors, the Crusaders are the only team with experience at the final four -- they appeared in 2014.

Saxony (27-2) is currently the second-ranked team in Class 3 and carries a 23-game winning streak into this weekend's action in Columbia, Missouri.

The Crusaders rallied to beat Arcadia Valley 64-51 in the Class 3 District 2 championship before knocking off Twin Rivers by 30 points, 62-32, in the state sectional round. Their biggest win to date came in Saturday's state quarterfinal when they edged out a 45-39 victory over defending state champion Park Hills Central, the top-ranked team in Class 3.

Senior Brianna Mueller leads Saxony, averaging a team-high 16.6 points per game. The 5-foot-7 guard is shooting 48 percent from the field and leads the team from beyond the arc, shooting 43.8 percent.

Senior Raegan Wieser, a 5-11 forward, has played in 11 games this season, averaging 12.0 ppg since returning from an ACL injury. Grace Mirly, a 5-7 senior, is averaging 11.1 ppg and a team-high 3.1 apg.

Maddie Brune, a 5-9 senior, leads the team with 4.9 rebounds per game, while 5-8 senior Ashlynn Collier is averaging 4.2 rpg. Collier is expected to replace senior Ali Galemmo in the starting lineup after Galemmo fractured her foot in Saturday's win over Park Hills.

Southern Boone

The Eagles are powered by nine juniors and three seniors, bringing 18 straight wins into the final four.

Southern Boone (29-1) is the only team in state history with back-to-back double-overtime wins in order to reach the state semifinals. The Eagles, who are currently ranked fourth in Class 3, beat Palmyra 64-58 in a state sectional before edging out a 49-43 decision against Cardinal Ritter in a state quarterfinal. Southern Boone won the Class 3 District 8 title with a 50-42 victory over Father Tolton.

The Eagles have four junior starters, including 5-11 guard Skyler Beeson, who's averaging a team-leading 14.2 points per game. Beeson's a 38-percent shooter from 3-point range and is averaging 3.8 rebounds per game. She's shooting 50.9 percent from the floor.

Kylie Shoot, a 5-7 guard, also averages double figures (12.9 ppg) for Southern Boone. The junior is a 36-percent shooter from 3-point range, leading the team in attempts (139).

Katie Price (5-10 forward) is the lone senior in the starting lineup, averaging 5.9 ppg and a team-high 4.4 rpg. Junior starter Faryn Griffin (5-6 guard) is averaging 4.0 ppg and a team-high 3.2 assists per game, and junior starter Emma Anderson (5-8 forward) is averaging 3.4 ppg and 4.0 rpg.

Strafford

The Indians are riding a 14-game winning streak, featuring perhaps the most potent offense remaining among the remaining field of teams.

A 72-62 win over Fair Grove gave Strafford (28-3) the Class 3 District 11 crown. The Indians are currently ranked No. 3 in Class 3, and they reached the final four by defeating El Dorado Springs 57-35 in a state sectional and taking down St. James 50-40 in a state quarterfinal.

Freshman Hayley Frank leads Strafford in three categories -- points, rebounds and assists. The 6-1 forward is averaging a double-double with 20.2 points per game and 12.2 rebounds per game, as well as 6.2 assists per game. She's shooting a team-leading 69.1 percent from the field and 89.5 percent at the charity stripe.

Junior Abby Oliver, a 5-5 guard, is also averaging double-figure scoring with 18.7 ppg. She's hit 82 of her 216 3-point attempts (38 percent) and shoots 78.7 percent from the free-throw line.

The rest of the starting lineup features 5-10 senior forward Kaylee Larimer (7.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg), 5-5 senior forward Logan Eden (5.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and 5-8 freshman forward Kayley Frank (5.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg).

St. Pius X (Kansas City)

The Warriors have won nine consecutive games and hail from the largest school among the remaining field of teams.

St. Pius X (25-3) was crowned the Class 3 District 16 champion after a 47-31 win over Lathrop and went on to clinch a state sectional victory with a four-point victory, 52-48, against Chillicothe. The Warriors, who are ranked No. 9 in the latest Class 3 poll, cruised past Boonville 58-27 to reach the final four.

Standing at 6-2, junior forward Abigail Hipp leads the way for St. Pius X. She's averaging 14.1 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game and 3.7 assists per game -- all team-leading numbers. Hipp is also shooting a team-high 59.3 percent (160 of 270) from the floor.

Antoinette Mussorici, a 5-6 sophomore guard, is also averaging double figures (13.2 ppg) for the Warriors. She's shooting 37.1 percent (33 of 89) from 3-point range and is 71 of 95 (74.7 percent) at the charity stripe.

The rest of the starters feature senior Natalie Denzer (5-7 forward), junior forward Amanda Hayes (5-8 forward) and senior Allison Malott (5-7 guard). Denzer is averaging 9.3 ppg and 5.0 rpg, Hayes is averaging 6.5 ppg and Malott is averaging 3.5 ppg.