Bess, Raulston close to milestones

Posted Wednesday, January 13, 2010, at 8:21 PM

Working on a pair of milestone stories for Thursday's DAR.

I'll have something on Poplar Bluff senior Jay Raulston closing in on 1,000 points. Only five other players have done that for the Mules. Poplar Bluff hosts Twin Rivers on Friday and Parkway South on Saturday.

Alex Abate is working on a preview for the Three Rivers Raiders' weekend trip in which coach Gene Bess will try to win his 1,100th game. The Raiders travel to Moberly on Friday and State Fair on Saturday.

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I have a question. This has absolutely nothing to do with Raulston or Bess.

How are the state rankings determined for basketball? In your opinion, are teams from the Kansas City area and the St. Louis area traditionally given more respect than the teams in Southeast Missouri? I have often wondered if the majority of the sports writers that vote on the state rankings are from the St. Louis and Kansas City area. There are more newspapers in St. Louis and Kansas City. Do these locations have more voters because they have more newspapers? I recognize sports writers from Southeast Missouri have the opportunity to vote on the rankings. However,are there more sports writers voting on the state rankings in St. Louis and Kansas City? Do you feel this impacts the rankings? I understand if you are prohibited from answering my questions.

-- Posted by drawmules on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 11:03 PM

Brian Rosener's response:

The rankings process changes from year to year, so I can only speak for this season. Basically, a group of sportswriters and sportscasters from around the state trade emails with suggestions. Since I was a voter for the football poll this fall, I sent along teams I thought should be ranked from my area. Everybody else does the same, then we compare notes. Sometimes it's pretty easy -- Scott County Central -- sometimes it's not. First polls are tougher since there's not a lot to go on except how a team did last year and what they've got back, which is probably why it's a good thing the rankings came out after the holiday tournaments.

Are teams in KC and St. Louis given more respect? You might think so, but fans from those areas probably look at SEMO and think the same thing. There are not more 'votes' coming from KC or St. Louis than other parts of the state. It's about as fair as you can make it without seeing every single team in the state play.

Brian Rosener

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Brian Rosener has been the sports editor for the Daily American Republic in Poplar Bluff, Mo. since December 2001. He was born and raised in St. Louis, where he attended Lindbergh High School and Webster University. Brian is married to Jennifer, a Poplar Bluff native, and has a step-son named Jack, 9, who is a much better golfer and swimmer than he is.

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