Column: Class 2, District 16 Bracketology
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It’s unclear who suffers more from Nodaway Valley moving up to Class 2 this year — the Thunder or the rest of Class 2, District 16.
The Thunder girls are the top seed in their bracket while the boys check in as the three seed in an incredibly deep bracket.
Here is a quick look at the teams and players to watch next week.
Class 2, District 16 boys
Hosted by Albany
Seeds: 1. Princeton, 2. Gallatin, 3. Nodaway Valley, 4. Maysville, 5. East Atchison, 6. St. Joseph Christian, 7. Albany.
Class 2, District 16 is among the toughest in the state with six teams above .500 and the leader of that group is as above .500 as it gets with 23-0 Princeton. The fascinating thing about this district is that the one team below .500, 7-16 Albany, played Princeton to within seven points just two weeks ago.
Princeton’s Clay Evans is the best player in the tournament, averaging over 20 points per game.
The GRC (East) champion Gallatin is also in the field with Gallatin holding a 19-4 record. Gavin Wilmes leads Gallatin at 18.1 points per game.
Of course, the Nodaway County representative is the third conference champion in the bracket with Nodaway Valley winning the 275 Conference behind their blend of freshmen and veterans. Freshman point guard Braxton McGinness leads one of the deepest teams in northwest Missouri.
Maysville narrowly lost to Gallatin this season and gets themselves paired with Princeton in a potential semifinal. Senior forward Dillon Willis leads the Wolverines at 21.2 points per game.
St. Joseph Christian and East Atchison are both 15-9 this season. Christian is one of the top outside-shooting teams in the area led by Johnston Stewart, along with Cy Carlson and Nick Orscheln also averaging double figures. East Atchison has played the top teams in northwest Missouri with two games within five points against Nodaway Valley.
Albany’s top game of the season came on February 7 with their 44-37 loss to Princeton.
Class 2, District 16 girls
Hosted by Maysville
Seeds: 1. Nodaway Valley, 2. Albany, 3. East Atchison, 4. Gallatin, 5. St. Joseph Christian, 6. Maysville, 7. Penney
Like the Class 1 boys bracket, the Class 2, District 16 bracket contains two teams with records above .500.
Nodaway Valley is the clear No. 1 seed, moving up from Class 1 to Class 2 this year. The Thunder’s only two losses this season have come to Class 4 teams Maryville and Savannah. All-State center Ava Graham leads her team averaging 20.2 points and 13 rebounds per game.
The Thunder starting lineup includes four 4-year starters with the backcourt of Paidyn Linville and Savanna Marriott joining the frontcourt of Paige Hanson and Graham. Marriott has missed the last five games with illness.
Albany is the clear No. 2 with a 4-point win over East Atchison earlier this month.
The Warriors losses this year are to Platte Valley, Princeton, Northeast Nodaway, Higbee and North Andrew, but they have won 8-straight, including avenging the Northeast Nodaway and Princeton losses to win the GRC West. Post player Jayden Hillyard averages 10.9 points per game.
East Atchison earned the coveted three-seed in the bracket and will be the favorite to get a rematch with Albany. Lizzie Schlueter is the Wolves’ top player, averaging 21.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 2.4 blocks per game.
Gallatin is a big favorite to face Nodaway Valley in the semifinals, but Albany topped Gallatin by 23 last week. Kallie Salmon averages 12.6 points per game
St. Joseph Christian owns four wins this season, Joy Wallick and Harper Sowers lead the Lions in scoring. Maysville beat Penney 40-38 earlier this month to secure the 6-seed. Penney is winless this season and also will be facing Albany for the first time.
