Uncharted waters

Risco starting to turn heads in Class 1

sports@standard-democrat.com

RISCO -- If you blink, you may miss it.

The small, rural town of Risco may not attract the casual passerby while traveling on US-153 or Highway 62, but if one happens to find themselves virtually out in the middle of nowhere on a Tuesday or Friday night, Risco basketball may give them a reason to stop on by.

The Risco Tigers are setting new records and new heights this season as they are slowly gaining solid recognition as one of the areas best basketball teams.

They recently gained the state's top ranking in the Missouri Class 1 coaches poll -- something that has never happened in the history of Risco High School.

"It's kind of a once in a lifetime type team," Risco coach Brandon Blankenship said. "The kids are excited, but on the flip side of that you don't want to get too caught up at this point in the season on those state rankings.

"Yes, being the first time in school history is special and you don't want to downplay that, but we want to be No. 1 at the end of the year. We're not as worried about it right now."

Coming off the school's first 20 win season since 1975, the Risco Tigers have spent the first half of the season running circles around their Class 1 competition.

That's thanks largely to a nearly unchanged roster that features at least five players capable of topping the scoring column on any given night.

Over the last five games, senior Luke Bixler has been the Tigers most consistent scorer averaging 20.4 point-per-game in that span. Close behind is senior Chris Pavy with a 19.7 average, followed by sophomore Jordon Pavy with 16.4.

"I think that's what part of what makes us so dangerous is you can't really key on any one guy," Blankenship said. "We've had five different guys lead us in scoring this year and I think all five of those guys have had a 20-point game some point in time.

"Then we have our other guys, our role players, that know that maybe scoring isn't what their job is on the team, but they do all the other little things that a good team has to have."

Echoing his coaches thoughts, Bixler said, "My teammates are amazing. We have different guys scoring every night. We have been playing together since we were young and our just clicking and working together. If we keep doing this we'll be strong and we'll succeed."

Now standing at 12-1 overall and 4-0 in conference, Risco is averaging just over 82 points a game, scoring a total of 1,067 points as their 93-42 win over Cooter on Tuesday.

If no one else believes what's brewing in Risco is the real deal, there's nearly 400 citizens of the small town that do.

Nearly every home game -- and away game, for that matter -- are flogged with yellow and black shirts. Every Tiger fan lives and dies by every call and every shot that's made.

"It's huge for the community," Blankenship said of the Tigers' success. "You don't know the support that we're getting from alumni. We got a card in the mail actually just yesterday from a husband and wife who graduated in 1949 from Risco.

"They just sent us a card saying they were proud of us for the state ranking. That kind of stuff is special."

The Tigers opened the season reeling off 11-straight before a 81-66 loss to Meridian, Ill. last Saturday snapped that streak.

On it's way to its lofty ranking Risco has hit several other milestones, including it's first Bernie Invitational championship since 1974, followed by a first place finish at the Clarkton Holiday tournament.

Although the chatter that Risco may finally be a contender has spread, one threat still remains.

Despite losing some of it's luster from a season ago, the Scott County Central Braves still pose the biggest obstacle for the Tigers in their quest for the dream season.

For the past two seasons, the Braves have merely dusted off Risco's advances at knocking off the three-time state champions.

Meeting two years ago in the Class 1, Sectionals, the Braves rolled to a 100-53 final before ending the Tigers' season for the second-straight time last season in the quarterfinals, 108-41.

And, although grumblings of a possible changing of the guard in the area's Class 1 basketball spotlight are heating up, Blankenship, as well as his Tigers, are quick to point out that much more work needs to be done if they want their third chance at the perennial powerhouse known as Scott Central -- or beyond.

"We know that Scott County Central ended our dreams (last year)," Bixler said. "We're just going to keep pushing forward and hopefully our season continues as well as it has been."

"Everybody looks down on us because we're short, but if we can just get the tempo going and play like we can and play together, we should be good contenders for the final four."