Some final food for thought: Top players in the area

Posted Wednesday, March 11, 2009, at 3:00 PM

If you have heard the rumors: Yes, this is my final day at Semoball.com; but no, I have not been tabbed by John Shafer to become SEMO's next basketball coach.

I will begin working as the sports editor at a paper in Southern California next week.

I am not a big believer in good-bye columns, but I want to say thanks to all the student-athletes, coaches, adult-athletes, officials, league organizers, race directors and administrators who took the time to answer my questions during the last five years.

And I thank everyone who took the time to read.

It is off to Park Hills one more time tonight for the Class 2 sectionals. You can look for live updates in my blogs.

In the meantime, feel free to discuss the top players in Southeast Missouri that would be included on a Semoball 5 this year, or would it be 6? Some tough calls on those two forward positions.

First, for the GIRLS, my team at the moment might include:

Shooting guard -- Katelyn Heil, Dexter

Forward -- Ashlee Taylor, Dexter

Post -- Jane Morrill, Notre Dame

Point guard -- Brittany Walker, Portageville

Forward -- Debra Hall, Kelly

Cape Central's Wendi Zickfield and Poplar Bluff's Ruthie Johnson would be among those in the mix as well.

Some area teams still are playing -- Delta (with Jodi Menz and Taylor Smith), Meadow Heights, Portageville, St. Vincent and surprising Scott City.

Dexter, 28-0 and No. 1 in Class 4 heading to this week's final four, actually has five pretty good candidates, as shown by their quarterfinal win this weekend when Heil and Taylor were in foul trouble.

An interesting scrimmage might be Dexter's starting five (Heil, Taylor, Jill Temples, Cathryn Heil and Abbie Warren) against a starting five from other schools.

BOYS

Post -- Michael Porter, Sikeston, who would likely be the Semoball player of the year if we had one.

Shooting guard -- Drew Thomas, Scott County Central

Point guard -- Bobby Hatchett, Scott County Central

Shooting forward -- Donald Dixon, Charleston

Power forward -- Austin Greer, Notre Dame

(The third forward -- Riley Raulston, Poplar Bluff)

I did not see Portageville (and Byron Wright) play this season, and there are plenty of other candidates worthy of consideration, including but not limited to Otto Porter from Scott County Central; Josh Minner and Kony Ealy, New Madrid; Jake Welch and Jake Owens, Bernie; Juqualin Wiggins, Sikeston; either VanGennip (David from Advance or Darren from Leopold).

Who would make your lists? Who am I missing?

Comments
Showing comments in chronological order
[Show most recent comments first]

Toby...Thanks for all the work you've done with Semoball over the past few seasons. I always enjoyed the blogs, the good coverage of games, and the links to local articles. Good luck in SoCal.

-- Posted by FarmBoy06 on Wed, Mar 11, 2009, at 3:10 PM

These Are Some Good Boy Players..But I Would Have To Add In Kennetts Jarvis Finley Who Averaged 21.0 ppg and is an explosive player from what ive seen this season! but besides that, a pretty accurate list

-- Posted by semo_fan on Wed, Mar 11, 2009, at 3:29 PM

Ditto Toby. You were a great asset to the area and we will miss all your hard work. I just hope semoball lives on!

-- Posted by semohoops on Wed, Mar 11, 2009, at 3:58 PM

hey toby where is scc game story from park hills at

-- Posted by kmasters on Wed, Mar 11, 2009, at 4:31 PM

sorry toby i found it thanks great job

-- Posted by kmasters on Wed, Mar 11, 2009, at 4:40 PM

I think you have a really good boy's list there, but I think honorable mentions should include Josh DeBrock from Kelly, Marcus Harris from Jackson or even Ronnie Gross from Bell City! All three played for teams that had decent records, but did not get the headlines because their teams did not win as many games as Sikeston, SCC and ND. By the way, good luck with your new job and SEMO will miss you!

-- Posted by sports fan 09 on Wed, Mar 11, 2009, at 6:20 PM

Toby,

Thanks for all the info, opinions, and data you compiled throughout the years.....will miss your input, and the work you did to make the sports in this area, more newsworthy......best of luck to you ....

-- Posted by Headhunt on Thu, Mar 12, 2009, at 1:47 PM

Bye Toby and Mrs. Toby. I enjoyed getting to know you at games (and on-line).

Good luck.

-- Posted by bobby62914 on Sat, Mar 14, 2009, at 9:24 PM

dont forget Nussbaum from Leopold-I would take him way before the VanGennip kid.

-- Posted by mom of 4 on Mon, Mar 23, 2009, at 12:05 PM

how is otto porter jr. not on any list. he is the one of the best forward/centers in the area and only a sophmore. you will not find a harder worker and a better young man than otto jr. thanks otto sr. you were an inspiration as a player in the 70's and you have raised a son that commands the same respect.

-- Posted by vanduser2000 on Thu, Mar 26, 2009, at 10:20 AM

sorry, just saw otto jr. in the first post. my fault. but he still should have been on the first five.

-- Posted by vanduser2000 on Thu, Mar 26, 2009, at 10:22 AM

Toby Carrig

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The online sports editor for Semoball.com and former sports editor for the Southeast Missourian, Toby Carrig has been in the business of sports journalism for more than 25 years, including 14 years with the Suburban Journals in St. Louis.

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