I have been with the Standard Democrat sports department since 2007. I took over as sports editor in May of 2011 and have been slightly crazy about sports since I can remember. I attended Southeast Missouri State University and Scott County Central High School. I co-created our sports web show "The Last Word" and my two children, Elijah and CJ. I was married to my wife, Angie, in May of 2014. I love to golf, I am an avid NBA2K gamer and root for the Fighting Irish on Saturdays.

The Top 5 teams/players list that will inevitably change each week

Posted Tuesday, February 3, 2015, at 1:54 PM

Well, this list is officially shot.

I try my best to predict what might happen, but in the SEMO Conference nothing stands for very long.

After a telling Friday night where Jackson avenged its loss to Notre Dame and Cape Central *upset?* Poplar Bluff (who then had an impressive win over St. Charles on Saturday), here's how I would rank the top teams and players so far.

Read on if you wish to see what won't happen throughout the week.

I think...

1. NMCC (18-2)
The Eagles are still my top team so far. They have a 4-1 SEMO Conference record and hold wins over Poplar Bluff, Cape Central and Notre Dame but we'll see how they do against visiting Poplar Bluff during Round II tonight. NMCC's next game will be Caruthersville on Friday then another conference game against Jackson next Tuesday.

2. Cape Central (16-4)
The Tigers just leapfrogged everyone, didn't they? I may be putting too much stock in its home win over the Mules but this is about the time Cape Central gets going. They are 1-1 in the conference with Notre Dame tonight and Kennett on Friday. I said last week that Notre Dame was my favorite to win Class 4, District 1. That's changed. Not saying it's Cape Central or Sikeston either. These teams just beat up on each other and will continue to do so until later this month when someone HAS to go home.

3. Poplar Bluff (15-3)
The Mules had a chance to take a huge step in terms of a SEMO Conference regular season crown, but Cape Central just made things more confusing. Then, the Mules go and hand St. Charles, a state-ranked team with only two losses prior, their third loss of the season at the Mule Barn on Saturday. A win tonight over NMCC and I'll just start pulling them out of a hat. They host Sikeston on Friday in what always seems to be a slobber-knocker.

4. Jackson (15-5)
I'm really not sure what to do with Jackson so here they sit at No. 4. The loss to Poplar Bluff is obviously a factor for them being behind the Mules but they took care of Notre Dame, last week's No. 2 team, rather convincingly on Friday. The Indians are 3-1 in conference play and are currently in a four-way tie for the conference lead along with Cape Central (1-1), NMCC (4-1) and Poplar Bluff (1-1).

5. Sikeston (11-7)
Yeah, that's right. I said Sikeston is the fifth best team in SEMO right now. They pulled off their fifth-straight win after clinching the Fort Zumwalt North Tournament on Friday and continue to trend upward. That rout over Notre Dame gave them the edge over their blue rival in this poll but we'll see how long they can hold on after they play Poplar Bluff on the road.

First five teams out:
Notre Dame
Scott County Central
Charleston
Bernie
Senath-Hornersville

Top 5 players:
1. Blake Reynolds, Jackson, Sr.
2. Delfincko Bogan, Charleston, Sr.
3. Willie Jimerson, NMCC, Sr.
4. Chris Stocks, Poplar Bluff, Sr.
5. Andre Statam, Cape Central, Sr.

On the bubble (in no particular order):
Fred Thatch, Sikeston, Fr.
Al Young, Cape Central, Jr.
Javarcus Word, NMCC, Soph.
Jeffery Porter, SCC, Jr.
Javonta Daniel, SCC, Sr.
Indaqual Presberry, Hayti, Sr.
Quinn Poythress, Notre Dame, Sr.
Braden Wendel, Jackson, Sr.
Victor Dukes, Senath-Hornersville, Sr.
Cortez Dobbins, Malden, Sr.