This is the second year I’ve attended the MFA Oil Shootout press conference and I’m kicking myself for not going the first year I was here. Fourteen teams attended yesterday’s press conference at the MFA Oil headquarters in Columbia.
You can click here to listen to some of the interviews from local coaches, courtesy of Eric Messersmith at KRES radio. Above is video featuring Harrisburg head coach Dan Bachmeier and Marion County head coach Mike Johnson. That game alone is worth attending Mizzou Arena on Sunday.
It’s not often we get to see two No. 1s face each other this year, but for the third time this season, Harrisburg will play a No. 1 ranked team (Both Hallsville and Hermann have been ranked No. 1 in Class 3 this season). I believe this is also the first girls game to be played in the MFA Oil Shootout and the committee did a pretty spectacular job producing a quality lineup, which features four No. 1 teams in the state.
First, let’s talk about the Harrisburg-Marion County matchup. With Chelsey Kroese scoring in the 20s consistently, I like Harrisburg’s offense to put up some points in this game. Paige Heibel will miss tonight’s game against California with a sprained ankle, the same one she injured in the sectional game against Sacred Heart last March. She is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. If she can’t play, Sonja Eaves, Tina Chickering and Kassi Blakemore are going to have to shoot some more 3-pointers.
Marion County’s lineup is very impressive for a Class 1 school. The Lady Mustangs are led by Jessica Redd, who has already signed to play at Truman State next year. She’s a 6-foot-1 forward and three-time All-State player, so I look for either Kroese or Haley Heuer to guard her. Marion County is undefeated this season and hasn’t lost in at least 45 games, but I’d have to go look it up. They’re obviously ranked No. 1 in Class 1 and I wouldn’t be surprised if they bring 750-plus fans from Philadelphia (Missouri, that is).
Another local team, the Salisbury boys, are also playing in this year’s Shootout. They’ll face Macon, who is having a down season with a 4-9 record. I don’t anticipate this being too close of a game, although I can’t say I’ve seen Macon play this year. But I have seen Salisbury play a few times and they’re the real deal. I’d put money on them returning to Mizzou Arena in March.
Above is a video of Macon head coach Doug Hawkins and Salisbury head coach Kenny Wyatt at yesterday’s press conference.
