SBLive Missouri high school boys basketball Power 25 rankings (Feb. 6): Top-ranked Vashon defeats top Illinois team Simeon
The Vashon Wolverines have had some strong performances the past two Saturdays, first knocking off then-Missouri No. 1 Staley in overtime and this past weekend taking down the top team in Illinois, Chicago Simeon.
Coach Tony Irons' squad looks poised to make another run at a state title.
• PREVIOUS RANKINGS: JAN. 24
Here's a look at the SBLive Missouri Power 25 (with records through Feb. 5):
1. Vashon (12-7)
Last ranking: 2
After slogging through a national schedule that saw the Wolverines staring at a .500 record 14 games in, Vashon has rebounded in a big way. The two-time defending Class 4 state champions, the Wolverines have still yet to lose to a Missouri opponent since a 39-35 loss to Westminster on Feb. 19, 2022. They knocked off Staley 58-57 in overtime before ambushing national-ranked Chicago Simeon in the O'Fallon Shootout over the weekend.
2. Staley (19-2)
Last ranking: 1
The Eagles were on a roll, knocking off Lee's Summit and Park Hill before suffering their second loss of the season to Vashon in overtime. Coach Chris Neff's squad responded in a bit way, defeating ranked opponents Lee's Summit West and North Kansas City in back-to-back games at home. They face a pair of Park Hill squads before prepping for the Class 6 state tournament in a few weeks.
3. Nixa (20-0)
Last ranking: 4
The Class 6 runner-ups last year just continue on their warpath. The Eagles won their own Invitational tournament, defeating Marquette, New Madrid County Central and Troy Buchanan before edging out Kickapoo in a battle of ranked opponents. Snow prevented a showdown with Neosho, but Nixa has answered all questions about its schedule so far.
4. Cardinal Ritter (18-3)
Last ranking: 3
The Lions are one of the hottest teams in the state and have pushed their winning streak to 17 games. Cardinal Ritter finished third in Class 5 and has rattled off wins over DuBourg, Father Tolton and KC Center this past week. The Lions are off this week before facing off against CBC in the season's penultimate game before district play.
5. Oak Park (20-1)
Last ranking: 5
The Northmen are riding a 14-game winning streak with wins over Park Hill. Oak Park will get four more games before heading into the district tournament highlighted by back-to-back matches with Truman and North Kansas City.
6. Lee's Summit West (19-2)
Last ranking: 6
Oak Park and the Titans are probably 2a and 2b in the Kansas City area. Lee's Summit West's season-opening loss to De Smet is a distant memory but suffered a four-point loss to Staley to snap its 17-game winning streak. The Titans held on for a two-point win over Free State in the 810 Varsity Showcase.
7. Cape Girardeau Central (20-1)
Last ranking: 7
The Tigers faced their toughest test of the season when it squared off with Simeon out of Chicago in the Show-Me Champions Classic at Vashon High School. The Tigers suffered a 23-point loss but rebounded to notch their 20th win of the season. The Tigers will get more tests in the upcoming games with matchups with Charleston, Park Hills Central and CBC on the slate before district play.
8. Kirkwood (19-0)
Last ranking: 10
The Pioneers just keep on winning under first-year coach Sam Briscoe. Kirkwood picked up a tournament win over the past week, knocking off De Smet in the title game of the Parkway West Circle Seven Ranch Showdown. The Pioneers continued its impressive season with an impressive 11-point win over Jefferson City at Helias Catholic.
9. Republic (19-1)
Last ranking: 12
After going through growing pains last year, the Tigers are streaking toward the playoffs. The Tigers won the highly-competitive Liberator Tournament defeating Thayer in the tournament title game. It kept the momentum going with a win over Carthage to push its winning streak to 18 games. It'll get its biggest test of the season on Tuesday when it travels to Nixa.
10. De Smet (14-5)
Last ranking: 11
The Spartans suffered a setback against Kirkwood in the Parkway West Circle Seven Ranch Showdown title game but responded with a 25-point win over Gateway Legacy Christian and a 10-point win over Metro Catholic Conference rival SLUH over the weekend. The Spartans have matchups with CBC and Chaminade on the horizon.
Vote now: Who should be SBLive's Missouri High School Athlete of the Week (Jan. 30-Feb. 4)?
Vashon tops Simeon in Missouri-Illinois boys basketball showdown at Bank of O'Fallon Shootout
Photos: Oak Park tops visiting Park Hill in Kansas City showdown
11. Kickapoo (12-7)
Last ranking: 9
The Chiefs have stumbled a bit in recent weeks, with two losses in the last four games to go along with wins over Jefferson City and West Plains. While they were two losses, a two-point loss to Battle and a three-point loss to Nixa show that Kickapoo is in a prime position to do some damage over the course of its regular season.
12. Ladue (16-4)
Last ranking: 13
The Rams had their seven-game winning streak snapped with a four-point loss to Triad (Ill.) at home. Ladue responded with two conference victories over Oakville and Lafayette. The Rams have been led by senior Jack Steinbach who is averaging 15.7 points a game. He is also dishing out nearly five assists a game.
13. Chaminade (14-8)
Last ranking: 8
Chaminade is in a tailspin after reaching the teeth of its daunting schedule. The Red Devils are currently struggling through a five-game losing streak, the longest streak under coach Frank Bennett. After a fourth-place finish last year in Class 6, the Red Devils are hoping to rebound after losses to Cardinal Ritter, SLUH, Whitney Young (Ill.), CBC and O'Fallon (Ill.) with a rematch against SLUH this week.
14. Park Hill (12-8)
Last ranking: 14
The Trojans faced its two toughest tests of the season and came away with two losses to Staley and Oak Park. It will look to get right with a rivalry game against Park Hill South on the horizon before a rematch with Staley in the coming weeks.
15. Christian Brothers College (12-9)
Last ranking: 17
The Cadets sandwiched a loss to East St. Louis (Ill.) with two wins over Metro Catholic Conference rivals of Vianney and Chaminade. CBC picked up its first win at Chaminade since a 88-75 victory in 2020.
16. Park Hill South (13-7)
Last ranking: 15
It's been a tough slate of games for the Panthers as they dropped two games on the road to both North Kansas City and Lee's Summit West after riding a five-game winning streak. Park Hill South has a rivalry game this weekend with Park Hill but can't overlook a Lee's Summit squad before it faces Staley in a rematch of a loss in January.
17. Charleston (17-5)
Last ranking: 20
The defending Class 3 champions are clicking on all cylinders. The Blue Jays have not lost a game since the calendar flipped and its offense is as hot as ever. Since the Superman Classic in mid-January, Charleston has not scored below 70 points in a game and topped 100 points in a blowout win over Fort Campbell.
18. Borgia (19-3)
Last ranking: 18
The Knights started off the season on a 15-game winning streak before stumbling to St. Charles in the Washington Tournament title game. Cardinal Ritter came to town to hand them a seven-point loss. Borgia picked up three wins before a three-point loss to Sikeston in the Union Tournament.
19. Jackson (14-6)
Last ranking: 19
The Indians are hitting the toughest part of their schedule now. Jackson will host Charleston before traveling to Marquette and New Madrid County Central. It split its two games in the St. Louis area with a win over Oakville and a loss to Miller Career Academy.
20. Troy Buchanan (16-4)
Last ranking: 25
The Trojans continued to roll through its schedule and ran its winning streak to 10 games before facing off with unbeaten Nixa in the Nixa Invitational tournament. The Eagles knocked off Troy to keep its unbeaten season alive but the Trojans showed that they can hang with anyone in the state.
21. North Kansas City (14-7)
Last ranking: 16
Had its four-game winning streak snapped by Staley on Friday. It will look to rebound with games against Truman and St. Joseph Central before two huge games at the end of the season against Oak Park and Lee's Summit West.
22. Hickman (14-5)
Last ranking: 22
Home to one of the more unique mascots in the country, the Kewpies have a tough slate of games ahead of them. After picking up a win over Whitfield over the weekend, Hickman will face off Jefferson City in a preview of a district game.
23. Rock Bridge (13-4)
Last ranking: 23
The Bruins took home the Fort Zumwalt North Invitational title before a loss to Jefferson City snapped its five-game winning streak. Rock Bridge demolished DuBourg and hit the road to face off against Battle this weekend.
24. St. Charles (17-3)
Last ranking: NR
The Pirates started the season on a 10-game winning streak before back-to-back losses to Ladue and Whitfield. To start the new year St. Charles is 7-1 and picked up a tournament title at the Washington Tournament to show those back-to-back losses are the aberration and not the norm.
25. Cooter (18-2)
Last ranking: NR
The Wildcats have only lost to two teams. Both they won't see in the playoffs and Cooter has rolled through its schedule. The Wildcats have ripped through a relatively weak schedule and has won their 18 games over Class 2 opponents by an average of 37 points.
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