SBLive Missouri high school boys basketball Power 25 rankings (March 8): Kickapoo moves up into Top 5 after winning district

While the top two teams remain steady at the top, the landscape of the boys basketball has shifted. Sikeston provided a huge upset, knocking off Cape Central in the district title game, while Kickapoo ended Nixa's bid for an unbeaten season. Jefferson City and Pembroke Hill smash their way into the rankings for the first time this year with district titles. Troy's buzzer-beater and Ladue's defensive stop at the end of the game pave their way to the quarterfinal round.

SBLIVE MISSOURI POWER 25 BOYS BASKETBALL RANKINGS

• PREVIOUS RANKINGS: JAN. 24 | FEB. 6 | FEB. 13 | FEB. 21 | FEB. 28 

Here's a look at the SBLive Missouri Power 25 (with records through March 6):

1. Vashon (21-7)

Last week: 1

Three more wins under their belt and the Wolverines are rolling. Vashon notched its ninth consecutive district championship, blitzing past Miller Career Academy in the Class 4 District 5 final on Monday evening. In its 14-game winning streak, as impressive as their offense has been, the Wolverines' defense has been nails, allowing only 60 points or more once. Vashon is on the warpath in its attempt to win its third successive state championship with Lutheran St. Charles standing in its way in the Class 4 sectional round on Friday.

2. Staley (27-2)

Last week: 2

Staley rode a balanced attack in its district title triumph over Oak Park on Monday. Kyan Evans and Larry Parker tallied 16 points each while KV Stone chipped in 10 points in the 56-49 victory in the Class 6 District 8 final. The Falcons ride their 10-game winning streak into the Class 6 quarterfinal game on Friday when they face off against Battle.

3. Cardinal Ritter (23-4)

Last week: 5

The Lions notched at least 20 wins in a season for the fifth straight season, claiming their 20th win in the regular season finale. On Friday, Cardinal Ritter completed the district tournament gauntlet with a 68-47 victory over Vianney in the Class 5 District 2 final. Nashawn Davis led the offensive attack with 20 points, while teammate Derrick Rivers chipped in 18 points for Cardinal Ritter in the win. The Lions will square off with Sikeston on Friday in a Class 5 quarterfinal game.

4. Kickapoo (21-8)

Last week: 8

Lost on the road to wrap up the regular season, but those memories are long gone. Kickapoo ripped through the Class 6 District 5 tournament, capping it with a district title on Monday, knocking off previously unbeaten Nixa, 68-60. The Shorter brothers, Brayden Shorter and Jackson Shorter, provided the offensive punch to eliminate their rivals. Brayden Shorter poured in 28 points, while his brother Jackson Shorter added 19 points. The two brothers scored 29 points in the first half. Kickapoo will square off with Lee's Summit West on Friday in a Class 6 quarterfinal game.

5. Lee's Summit West (23-3)

Last week: 9

The offense for the Titans may not set the scoreboard ablaze, but their defense has suffocated every offense they've come across. Lee's Summit West smothered its way through the Class 6 District 6 tournament, holding its three opponents to an average of 37 points a game and won the district trophy with a 55-39 victory over Rockhurst on Monday. The Titans draw Kickapoo in a Class 6 quarterfinal game on Friday evening.

MSHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYOFF BRACKETS

MSHSAA GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYOFF BRACKETS

6. Chaminade (22-8)

Last week: 10

That five-game skid in the middle of the season is a bad memory. The Red Devils are as hot as any team in the state, winners of their last seven games, including a district title. Chaminade knocked off defending Class 6 state champions CBC 66-60 in the Class 6 District 3 final on Monday evening at SLUH. Nilavan Daniels scored a team-high 16 points with 11 of them coming in the final minute of the game at the charity stripe. BJ Ward chipped in 14 points for the Red Devils who will play Troy Buchanan in a Class 6 quarterfinal game on Friday.

7. Ladue (24-5)

Last week: 12

After surviving Parkway North in the first round of the Class 5 District 3 tournament, Ladue cruised to a win over McCluer North to set up a showdown with De Smet in the district title game on Monday. The Rams held a 17-point lead before De Smet clawed all the way back to take a lead before Ladue stampeded back in front and had to survive a multitude of shots in the final seconds of the game as Ladue held on for a 48-47 victory. Jack Steinbach led the way with 13 points. Ladue will take on Westminster on Friday in a Class 5 quarterfinal game.

8. Oak Park (26-2)

Last week: 4

The Northmen saw their season come to an end on Monday, losing to Staley in the Class 6 District 8 final, 56-49. Corbin Allen scored a game-high 20 points, while teammates Winston Allen and Caleb Estes chipped in 13 points in the losing effort. Oak Park's two losses this season both came to Staley. Its 26 wins are the most since they won 23 games in 2017-18.

9. Nixa (28-1)

Last week: 3

The defending Class 6 runner-ups were cruising into the district finals on Monday, winning an unprecedented 28 games in a row. Kickapoo ended that streak along with Nixa's season, handing the Eagles a 68-60 loss in the Class 6 District 5 title game. Kael Combs poured in 36 points in the title game as Nixa couldn't complete the district finals three-peat.

10. New Madrid County Central (22-7)

Last week: 19

After capturing the district title two weeks ago, the Eagles got their biggest test of the year with a matchup with CHarleston in the sectional round in Class 3. New Madrid County Central passed that test before crushing West County in the Class 3 quarterfinal round. New Madrid County Central is back in the semifinal round after a third-place finish in Class 4 last season. It is looking for its first state title since 2001 and will face off with Lafayette County in the first Class 3 semifinal game on Friday.

Vote now: Who should be SBLive's Missouri High School Athlete of the Week (Feb. 27-March 4)?

Seniors lead Chaminade past top-seed CBC to win Missouri Class 6 District 3 championship

Shorter brothers lead Kickapoo past unbeaten Nixa to capture Class 6 District 5 championship

Photos: Staley edges Oak Park to win Class 6 District 8 championship

Photos: Charlie Nett's overtime buzzer-beater lifts Troy Buchanan past Francis Howell to win Class 6 District 4 title

11. Troy Buchanan (24-5)

Last week: 20

On senior night, Francis Howell played spoiler to Troy Buchanan. On Monday, the Trojans got a measure of revenge, eliminating the Vikings from the postseason with a 49-47 victory in the Class 6 District 4 tournament on the Viking's home court. Charlie Nett hit the game-winning shot as time expired in overtime to send Troy to the quarterfinal round. Troy will square off with Chaminade in a Class 6 quarterfinal game on Friday.

12. Cape Girardeau Central (26-3)

Last week: 6

After a two-point loss in the regular season to CBC, it appeared the Tigers had righted the ship going into the Class 5 District 1 final against Sikeston on Monday. After dispatching Sikeston by 27 points earlier in the regular season, Cape Central got ambushed on Monday, falling to Sikeston 50-48 in the district title game. Jaydon Renolds led the Tigers with 17 points in the loss.

13. Pembroke Hill (22-5)

Last week: NR

After a loss to Father Tolton in the Missouri Hall of Fame Classic, the Raiders have been on a rampage. After breezing through the first two rounds, Pembroke Hill flexed its muscles against Smithville on Monday in the Class 5 District 8 final to pick up its third consecutive district title. The Raiders will square off with Ruskin in a Class 5 quarterfinal game, looking to get to the semifinal round for the second successive year.

14. Jefferson City (22-7)

Last week: NR

The Jays notched a district title with a four-point win over Borgia in the Class 5 District 5 tournament on Monday. Despite facing a double-digit deficit in the first half, Jefferson City clawed it back before taking a lead into the final frame. Seniors Jordan Martin and Steven Samuels combined to score 47 points of the team's 69 points. Jefferson City will play Hillcrest in a Class 5 quarterfinal game on Friday.

15. Jackson (20-9)

Last week: 18

A regular-season finale loss didn't dampen Jackson heading into the district tournament. The Indians had to scrap together a one-point win over Lindbergh in the semifinal round before holding on for a two-point victory over Kirkwood in the Class 6 District 1 title game on Monday. In what appears to be more of a football quarterfinal game, Jackson will play Eureka on Friday in a Class 6 quarterfinal game.

16. Sikeston (22-7)

Last week: 24

Sikeston, after stumbling a bit down the stretch, flipped the script on Monday in the district title game. After losing to Cape Central by 27 points a month ago, the Bulldogs pulled off a huge upset in the Class 5 District 1 title game, defeating Cape Central 50-48. Dontrez Williams led the way with 23 points on the offensive end while swatting three shots. The Bulldogs have a date with Cardinal Ritter on Friday in a Class 5 quarterfinal game.

17. Republic (24-4)

Last week: 7

In an absolutely loaded district tournament, Republic managed to scrap past Neosho in the first round of the Class 6 District 5 tournament before falling to Kickapoo in the second round. Sophomore Brenley Hagewood scored 23 points in the losing effort. After tallying 15 wins total last year, the 24 wins are the most since the Tigers won 27 games and the Class 4 state championship in 2014.

18. Kirkwood (24-3)

Last week: 11

Kirkwood ran into a buzzsaw in the Class 6 District 1 title game, falling to Jackson 39-37 on Monday evening. The Pioneers tied the 1999-2000 squad for most wins in a season with 24. After scuffling to just nine wins last year, the 15-win improvement from first-year coach Sam Briscoe is a silver lining on the season.

19. De Smet (21-8)

Last week: 13

Cruised into the Class 5 District 3 title game at Ladue, matching up with the host Rams on Monday. The Spartans roared back from a 17-point deficit to take the lead midway through the fourth quarter before the Rams wrestled the lead back in the game's waning seconds. De Smet had multiple chances at the end of the game for the go-ahead bucket but they all came up empty. The 21 wins are the most since they notched 22 wins in 2019-20.

20. Thayer (25-4)

Last week: NR

The Bobcats cruised their way to the semifinal round for the second consecutive season. Thayer picked up a three-point win in the Class 3 District 10 title game before blitzing past Steelville and Sparta in the sectional and quarterfinal round last week. Thayer will square off with Lutheran North in the Class 3 semifinal round on Friday in Springfield.

21. MICDS (23-6)

Last week: NR

The Rams dispatched Whitfield and John Burroughs in the Class 4 District 4 tournament to earn the district title. MICDS has won eight in a row before earning a 12-point victory over Sullivan in a Class 4 sectional matchup. Marcus Coleman leads the attack with 11 points a game while Jayden Banks adds 10.9 points a game and dishes out over three assists a game. MICDS will play Park Hills Central on Friday in a Class 4 quarterfinal game.

22. Christian Brothers College (18-11)

Last week: 14

After living on the edge in multiple games throughout the season, the Cadets fell on the wrong side of the coin on Monday. The defending Class 6 state champions fell to conference rival Chaminade in the Class 6 District 3 title game on Monday. Junior guard Anthony Gause scored a game-high 26 points in the loss.

23. Charleston (22-7)

Last week: 15

The defending Class 3 state champions saw its title defense end in the Class 3 sectional round to rivals New Madrid County Central. The Blue Jays fell 65-61 to the Eagles last week in the sectional round.

24. North Kansas City (18-9)

Last week: 17

In the monstrous Class 6 District 8 tournament, North Kansas City saw its season come to a close in the first round to Park Hill South, 62-55.

25. Borgia (24-5)

Last week: 18

The Knights' season came to a close on Monday in the Class 5 District 5 title game when Borgia fell 69-65 to Jefferson City. The 24 wins are the most since Borgia tallied 30 wins in the 2009-10 season.

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