RecSpecs 15

If you’re not familiar with how the RecSpecs 15 works, it’s simple. These are Allen Vaughan’s high school basketball rankings, assuming each team will beat the teams ranked below them. No questions asked.

With the holiday tournaments quickly approaching, be sure to check back later this week for Blue and Gold previews, as well as Pink and White and Lady Classic.

Now, on to the rankings:

Boys

1. Nixa (8-0) – Wins over two Ozark Conference schools (Glendale and Waynesville) show Eagles have strong schedule strength, as well as talent.
2. Ozark (6-1) — Tigers aren’t a sexy pick amongst local media. They’re not flashy, but two wins over Kickapoo looks pretty good right about now.
3. Hillcrest (4-0) — With only four games played, Hornets are still trying to find a groove. Victory over Parkview helps the Hill tread water.
4. Branson (7-0) — Always entrenched in an irregular non-conference schedule, Branson’s win over Kickapoo shows B&G seed committee got it right with that No. 2 seed.
5. Joplin (4-1) — Big win over Webb City shows Eagles are knocking off the football rust.
6. Glendale (5-2) — A lopsided loss to Nixa was to be expected, but the young Falcons rebounded with a big win over Central.
7. Strafford (6-0) — Is this too high for the Indians? Perhaps, but this week’s Blue and Gold will tell us a lot about possibly the area’s best sub-Class 4 school.
8. Parkview (5-1) — A close loss at Hillcrest is a nice litmus test for the Vikings.
9. Kickapoo (4-3) — Not only did the Chiefs lose twice last week, but Kickapoo might have lost its best player in Brodie Wingert for at least the B&G, if not longer. Stay tuned.
10. Mt. Vernon (5-1) — The Mtneers are starting to prove they’re more than just the Zack Kleine show.
11. Republic (6-1) — After another win, the Tigers are off to a start well beyond expectations. The B&G is a huge opportunity to prove they are as good as the record.
12. Clever (7-1) — A 75-29 victory over Ash Grove shows how good Clever is. No matter how down AG is, it should never lose to Clever by 40+.
13. Dadeville (5-0) — Easily the top Class 1 school in the Ozarks, the Bearcats are an off-broadway hit. Unfortunately, they’re not in the B&G.
14. Stoutland (7-0) — The Tigers continue to look like they’re a Class 2 heavyweight.
15. Rogersville (4-3) — Struggling to find a groove, the Wildcats can make a good impression at the B&G.

Trying to get in focus: Miller, Bolivar, Waynesville, Greenwood, Seneca, Carthage, Webb City

Girls

1. Nixa (8-0) — Is anyone going to stop the Eagles? Just asking. Is that what the Lady Classic is for?
2. Webb City (9-0) — Webb City is gearing up for what could be one of two meetings with Nixa in the Lady Classic.
3. Kickapoo (2-3) — A huge win over Bishop Miege proves the Lady Chiefs belong in the top three of these rankings. Miege is a powerhouse in the KC area.
4. Glendale (5-2) — Defense continues to be Glendale’s calling card. Once Emily Cline is 100 percent health, watch out. A loss to Rock Bridge doesn’t hurt too bad.
5. Mt. Vernon (5-1) — The Pink and White’s top seed is on a roll. A win over Fair Grove strengthens the resume.
6. Ozark (5-4) — I still have a hard time believing the Tigers can drop below the top six. Maybe I’m wrong, but I’ll deal with the consequences.
7. Parkview (5-2) — Don’t ever use injuries as an excuse. The Vikings have nearly used double-digit different combos of starting lineups. And they’re still winning.
8. Branson (6-1) — A slim win over local rival Blue Eye wasn’t as demonstrative as some would have liked, but the Pirates continue to get Ws.
9. Republic (5-1) — The undersized Tigers live and die by the 3-point shot. So far, it’s a reason to live.
10. Sparta (5-0) — Anytime your team can win 94-29 over anyone, you know it’s serious. The Lady Trojans extend the winning streak to 36.
11. Purdy (6-1) — The Lady Eagles might not lose for a while, once they get into conference play.
12. Fair Grove (5-2) — A loss to Conway muddles a little bit of the Eagles’ luster. Is it a sign of things to come?
13. Fordland (5-1) — Well below the radar, the Eagles can make some noise at the Walnut Grove Tournament.
14. Walnut Grove (6-0) — The last time the Tigers were this good, they won the Class 1 championship.
15. West Plains (4-2) — A loss to Poplar Bluff isn’t the worst thing in the world, but it could have helped foreshadow the season. Or did is that exactly what happened?

Trying to get in focus: Hillcrest, Marshfield, Hartville

Got beef with my rankings? Who did I leave out? Who did I overvalue? Email Allen Vaughan at Allen@TagSGF.com and give it to me straight.

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