Class 3 Boys Basketball Updates

Here is the rundown in Class 3 across the state:

C3D1 - Charleston, aka "The Factory" looks to knock off a very solid Malden squad. I just can't see Charleston losing this one.

C3D2 - Saxony Lutheran looks to knock off Doniphan. Saxony has battled through a ton of injuries this year. This is a really good team. I think they'll keep moving forward, and Charleston vs. Saxony, "Part 3" will be a great game.

C3D3 - Park Hills Central (19-9) vs. Steelville (21-4) is a good game on paper, but let's be honest. The winner is the sacrificial lamb for Whitfield in the next round. I hope Park Hills reads that and uses it as bulletin board material and proves me wrong! But it will take a great game to beat Whitfield.

C3D4 - Whitfield is the team to beat in Class 3. They're my pick to win the state title. They had the talent to win it last year but came up short in the state finals. I think they'll coast to the quarterfinals, where MAYBE Saxony or Charleston can give them a game. They're loaded. They have Torrence Watson (6'5, Mizzou bound), they have shooters, they have a good point guard, they have size... this team is loaded.

C3D5 - Maplewood Richmond Heights upset Cardinal Ritter. We've seen a #1 seed fall! As impressive as that is, I don't see the winner of this district making a deep playoff run.

C3D6 - How good is Trinity Catholic? They're just beating the heck out of teams. Transportation and Law, a funny sounding name for a school, is actually the defending state champions. They're 19-7 and still alive. That should be a great district final.

C3D7 - Christian High School vs. Montgomery County should be a good game. It's hard to get a read on some of these new private schools.

C3D8 - Hallsville is the #1 seed (22-3) and should be the team to beat. They've had a great year. Clark County (22-3) is also very good. Monroe city (22-4) has a solid team. This is a really good district.

C3D9 - Blair Oaks. Southern Boone, and St. James are all battling to make it out of this loaded district. Father Tolton is the #4 seed here, and that is a good, young basketball team.

C3D10 - Mountain Grove (26-1) is one of the favorites to make it to the Final Four. Licking (21-6) is capable of knocking them off, but it would be an upset for sure.

C3D11 - Springfield Catholic or Strafford should be the team to come out of this district, and either could make a run at the Final Four.

C3D12 - Mt. Vernon (19-8) is the best team in a very balanced district. Stockton, Lamar, or Seneca could also come out. There isn't a great team here, but they are all solid.

C3D13 - This might be the weakest Class 3 District in the state. Versailes (14-12) is the best team in the pack. Expect the winner to be one and done in the state tournament.

C3D14 - Hogan Prep (a charter school) or University (another charter school) should be the winner here. Looking up and down this district, I think there is only one public school in the entire bracket. That will be a theme in the KC area.

C3D15 - St. Paul Lutheran (20-3) should be the team to beat here. They might have a hard time making a deep playoff run.

C3D16 - Maryville is the team to beat here. I don't see them having a hard time getting out of this district.

My way, way, waaaaayyyyy too early Final Four prediction:

Whitfield, Trinity Catholic, Mt. Grove, and Hogan Prep. It's the Class 3 Final Four, where tickets cost 1.35 more than Class 1 and 2 (that's a private/charter school joke).