The St. James Lady Tigers are back where they probably belonged all along...in the Missouri Class 4 state poll.
The St. James High School girls’ basketball team made its first appearance in the state poll this week, being selected No. 6 in the Class 4 state poll, which is compiled by the Missouri Sportswriters/Sportscasters Association.
St. James dropped two games with all-state junior guard Rachel Connell sidelined after toe surgery. However, Connell returned to the St. James lineup last week and the Lady Tigers are again clicking. St. James knocked off state-ranked Four Rivers Conference foe St. Clair last week and currently has a 14-2 record.
Exactly half of the Four Rivers Conference girls’ basketball teams are state-ranked this week. Hermann, which entered this week with a 13-2 record, is ranked No. 4 in Class 3 while Pacific (15-1) is ranked No. 3, St. James No. 6 and St. Clair (15-2) No. 7 in Class 4.
Last season St. James was ranked as high as No. 2 in the regular-season state poll while advancing to the state tournament quarterfinals and ending with a 27-2 mark.
It will be a battle of Class 4 state-ranked teams on Saturday when St. James travels to Washington to take on St. Francis Borgia. The junior varsity game is to begin at 5 p.m. with the varsity contest to follow. Borgia is ranked No. 5 in the girls' Class 4 state poll.
The Missouri state high school regular-season basketball rankings as compiled by the Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.
BOYS
CLASS 1
1. Scott County Central 14-1
2. Meadville 13-0
3. Dadeville 12-0
4. Glasgow 13-1
5. Richland 12-2
6. Pilot Grove 14-1
7. LaPlata 11-1
8. Montrose 12-1
9. Leopold 11-4
10. Jefferson 11-2
CLASS 2
1. Hamilton-Penney 12-0
2. Sturgeon 15-0
3. Stoutland12-1
4. Spokane 14-2
5. Wellington-Napoleon 13-0
6. Mid-Buchanan 12-1
7. Adrian 12-0
8. Bernie 12-2
9. Wellston-Eskridge 9-7
10. Oak Ridge 10-3
CLASS 3
1. Arcadia Valley 18-0
2. Hogan Prep 10-5
3. Whitfield 11-7
4. Strafford 13-2
5. Kennett 11-4
6. Clearwater 13-2
7. Schuyler Co. 13-0
8. Maryville 11-1
9. Blair Oaks 10-2
10. Cardinal Ritter 11-4
CLASS 4
1. Borgia 15-0
2. Sikeston 14-1
3. Kearney 13-1
4. OHara 14-3
5. Soldan 13-4
6. Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) 13-4
7. Clayton 13-5
8. MICDS 13-3
9. Moberly 10-5
10. Kansas City Center 11-5
CLASS 5
1. Webster Groves 17-0
2. Raymore-Peculiar 13-1
3. Hazelwood Central 12-3
4. Branson 17-2
5. McCluer 14-3
6. Nixa 17-1
7. Liberty 13-3
8. KC Central 10-2
9. Chaminade 13-5
10. Truman 15-2
GIRLS
CLASS 1
1. Marion County 11-3
2. Montrose 13-0
3. Jefferson 12-1
4. Walnut Grove 12-2
5. Mercer 12-0
6. Meadville 13-0
7. Northeast Nodaway 12-1
8. Verona 14-3
9. Southwest Livingston 11-2
10. Pilot Grove 12-3
CLASS 2
1. Sparta 14-2
2. Hamilton 12-0
3. Harrisburg 13-0
4. Neelyville 18-0
5. Laquey 15-2
6. Miller 13-3
7. Salisbury 12-1
8. Osceola 9-2
9. Purdy 13-3
10. Bismarck 14-1
CLASS 3
1. Cardinal Ritter 12-2
2. California 15-0
3. Maryville 10-2
4. Hermann 13-2
5. Mount Vernon 14-2
6. St. Pius X (Festus) 14-0
7. Conway 14-2
8. South Shelby 11-1
9. Macon 12-3
10. Bowling Green 10-3
CLASS 4
1. Webb City 15-1
2. St. Joseph Benton 15-1
3. Pacific 15-1
4. Hickman Mills 14-4
5. St. Francis Borgia 12-2
6. St. James 12-2
7. St. Clair 15-2
8. Platte County 13-3
9. St. Dominic 14-3
10. Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) 12-4
CLASS 5
1. Incarnate Word 17-1
2. Nixa 15-2
3. Fort Zumwalt West 15-1
4. St. Josephs Academy 14-5
5. Rock Bridge 14-2
6. Blue Springs 12-2
7. Kickapoo 12-5
8. Lees Summit North 12-3
9. Hazelwood Central 10-3
10. Eureka 16-1
