Top 5 hoops teams and players? Here's what I think...

We haven't had much basketball this week thanks to the cold stuff. But that won't stop my driving force for hoops or to rank the Top 5 basketball teams, and players, of the area.

From now until districts I'll try to update my Top 5 each week. Here we go...

1. Charleston (16-5) -- Now I know what you're thinking. What about Jackson? Well, the game they were scheduled to play Tuesday was supposed to give me a clear answer to who is the No. 1 team. My gut tells me Bluejays should hold the top spot. For now. Though Jackson won the seMissourian Christmas Tournament with Charleston also in the field, I think Charleston turned into a different basketball team the week of Jan. 13-18. They defeated NMCC, Sikeston and SCC in three games during that stretch and a clear-cut, no-doubt-about-it conclusion arose following those three wins. Delfincko Bogan had arrived. The junior, who averages 27 points per game, closed out each of those three games. He was and continues to be the unstoppable force every team needs to create separation and finish close games. Charleston, ranked seventh in Class 3, has also reaped the benefits from the development of guys like Shandor Webster (12.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg) and Timontrail Horton inside, Kelvondre Moore, Demontrail Clark and Mike Kellum in the backcourt and, of course, Robert Bogan having the ability to guard almost anyone they ask him to. On most nights, Charleston is quicker, tends to defend better and has the best player on the floor. Great combination for a No. 1 team.

2. Jackson (16-3) -- If I was in favor of a 1A, 1B type of ranking system, this would be an instance to use it. Earlier this season, Jackson, winners of both the SEMO Conference Tournament and the seChristmas Tournament, no doubt have shown they were going to be a tough team to tackle. They have yet to lose to a SEMO Conference or area team and their only three losses are to Vianney, Carbondale, Ill., and Webster Groves. To me, they earned that signature win they needed by withstanding Sikeston in overtime. Next was supposed to be Charleston, but that game was postponed until Feb. 15 due to winter being a spoiled little rich kid getting its way. Can you tell I really want to see that game? Jackson isn't without its stars as they boast one of the tallest teams known to SEMO-man. Karson King (15 ppg, 4 apg) is their 6-foot-6, go-to guy. Much like Bogan, when Jackson needs a bucket, King gets it. Under the rim is their best asset where they utilize 6-7 forward Blake Reynolds (13 ppg, 7 rpg), 6-8 center Brandon Lueders (7 ppg, 6 rpg) and King who pitches in another six rebounds a game. They also have another five guys who stand at 6-3 or better. Has an opposing team EVER got a rebound against Jackson? Oh yeah, they also have a sure-handed, faster-than-you-think point guard in Josh Daume who scores 11 per game. Not only do they tower above most, but they have an extremely deep bench with eight players averaging over 14 minutes a game. Jackson may be the most balanced team I've seen in a long time. Their only weak point I've noticed is finishing off teams and making wins into no-doubters. Other than that, the Indians are solid in almost every facet. Remember...Feb. 15. Jackson-Charleston. At Charleston. That's a Saturday. The game should start around 3:30 following the J.V. game.

3. Sikeston (15-3) -- The fourth ranked team in Class 4 has lost to both of the teams placed ahead of them in this Top 5 and once to the "Bluedogs" to the north. In each of their three losses, Sikeston has been there at the end with a chance to win it. As a matter of fact, all three of their losses have been overtime affairs and they've lost by a total margin of eight points combined. Ouch! No matter who they're playing, however, Sikeston will always have a shot to win it because of one thing. Defense. In their three losses, the Bulldogs forced 25 turnovers against Notre Dame, 14 against Charleston and 13 against Jackson. They force an average of 23 turnovers a contest which will definitely help your team. They're not the most talented team, but they find ways to be in ballgames simply because of their defensive play. Like Jackson, Sikeston has a very deep team. Outside of J.T. Jones, who averages a double-double, the Bulldogs have to rely on multiple players to score and they usually come through. Reese Porter is good for 12 a night and then after that, guys like Dominique Dyes, Chris Scott and Zach Harrison hover around the 8-10 point range each game. Sikeston still has an away game with Cape Central on Friday, NMCC Feb. 18 and a newly appointed game with Caruthersville on Feb. 20 in C'ville. If they win out, Sikeston's a sure-thing to hang on to this spot and, more importantly, make a serious run at their sixth straight district title in March.

4. Scott County Central (13-4) -- This is where it gets tricky. I was extremely tempted to put Cape Central in this spot but they have a few losses that make you scratch your head. So, SCC gets the four-spot. Like many teams, the Braves rolled into the season with big wins that turned a few heads. Kennett at the Riverbend, Notre Dame at Christmas and beating Oran twice (no easy feat) to win the OIT and Scott-Mississippi Conference Tournament. After that, SCC has lost to Charleston (twice), Jackson in a landslide and has beaten the teams they should by a correct margin. They're ranked third in Class 1 and, other than that, don't really have a signature win to hang their hat on that didn't happen early in the season and they probably won't for the remainder of it. Their schedule doesn't finish strong for my ranking purposes. If only they could have added a game with a team just south of them about 10 miles away...I know each team has openings, or did. Hmph...(I'll have to save this rant for a different entry). Anywho, the Braves have backcourt weapons galore in sophomore Jeffery Porter and senior LaRandis Banks who both excel at taking defenders off the dribble and either dishing or scoring at the rim. They're both good shooters and serve as one of the best one-two punches on the floor. The Braves also have senior Juwan Owens, who's good for at least 12 a night and post players Kendall Blissett, Javonta Daniel and Matthew Blissett who all play bigger than their 6-2 frames. Banks, Porter, Owens and Daniel each average double figures. Both Porter and Banks score 16 a game. Owens adds 12 ppg and Daniel is right at 10. They also have Kendall Blissett and Matthew Blissett hovering just under 10 points per game.

5. Cape Central (9-7) -- I know their record's not the shiniest and, like most seasons, they slip up to a few teams that most think the Tigers should get by. However, the bottom line is that Cape Central is a team that can beat anyone on any given night. They proved that by taking down Kennett on Friday in a 3-point thriller. They just don't show they can be one of the more dominant teams in the area on a consistent basis. They trounced Charleston during Christmas, came away with a one-point win over an underrated Poplar Bluff team last week and the aforementioned win over district foe Kennett Friday night. Those are three good wins. But the close losses are what sticks out with this team. Per Brian Rosener of the Daily American Republic, the Tigers are 3-7 in games decided by single digits this season. They still have Jackson, Charleston and Sikeston left on their schedule and although I like their two most recent wins, I'll have to see what they do against Jackson on Tuesday and then Sikeston on Friday to see where they belong. I wouldn't be surprised at all if "the ultimate wild card of southeast Missouri basketball" pulls out a win in at least one of those games. Maybe both. You won't find a much better front court than 6-7 Jamal Cox and 6-6 Andre Statam. Statam has emerged as Cape Central's most valuable team member, for my money, and Cox has always been a presence underneath. The question never has been if Cape Central is good enough to beat certain teams. It's been, "what team will show up?"

On the bubble teams:
Notre Dame (11-7)
Kennett (11-7)
Caruthersville (14-2)
NMCC (9-6)
Poplar Bluff (8-11)
...in that order.

Here's something a bit different I'm trying. I thought I would rank the Top 5 players in our area as well. I won't go into much detail about them specifically, but I thought it would be fun just to gauge reactions and opinions.

1. Delfinkco Bogan, Charleston, jr. -- I don't think there's much debate here. Averaging 27 points, 6.9 rebounds and three steals a game.
2. J.T. Jones, Sikeston, sr. -- The double-double machine. Averaging 18 points, 11 rebounds and four assists a game.
3. Karson King, Jackson, sr. -- One of the best forwards around. Averages 15 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
4. Andre Statam, Cape Central, jr. -- Can score inside and out. Seems to be in the right spots at the right time. That doesn't happen on its own.
5. Willie Jimerson, NMCC, jr. -- Jimerson can simply score. One of the more athletic guards I've ever seen. Averages 21 points and five boards a game.

On the bubble players:
Kevonte Mitchell, Kennett, sr.
Jeffery Porter, Scott County Central, soph.
Quinn Poythress, Notre Dame, jr.
Lane Below, Advance, sr.
Darrell Monroe, Caruthersville, sr.
...in no particular order.