Local seniors picked for Challenge

Are you a high school basketball fan? Do you miss the squeaking sound of shoes on the hardwood floor or the thrill of a half-court buzzer-beating shot?

Well, you’re in for a treat.

The first Missouri Challenge basketball tournament will be Friday and Saturday at Columbia College.

The Challenge replaces the all-star games that have been played in recent years in Springfield.

The state’s top senior boys and girls are divided into eight teams based on geographic regions.

Each team is seeded and will compete in single-elimination bracket play.

Cullen Rosine, of Knob Noster, and Jared Askren, of Warrensburg, will compete on the Central boys team, which will be coached by Josh Buffington, of Helias.

The Central squad has been  seeded No. 7 and will open against No. 2 Kansas City at 5 p.m. Friday.

The Central team received a tough first-round matchup.

Nine of the 10 players on the Kansas City squad are all-staters, and five of them are first-teamers.

Five of Kansas City’s all-staters stand 6-foot-5 or taller, and four of them have signed with Division I colleges.

Ivo Baltic, of Park Hill South, has committed to play for Ohio University.

Michael Dixon, of Lee’s Summit West, has committed to Missouri.

Justin Clark, of William Chrisman, has signed with Illinois State.

Matt Webb, of Lee’s Summit Christian, has signed with UMKC.

The Central team features two players who have committed to Division II schools: Rosine will play at Central Missouri, and Steve Cotton, of Eldon, has committed to Southwest Baptist.

The Central team features three all-staters: first-teamers Adam Chesser, of California, and Chris Wilde of St. Elizabeth. Rosine is a second-teamer.

Three girls from the Kaysinger Conference will compete on the Central squad: Candace Garr, of Stover; Laura McMullin, of Sacred Heart; and Erin Rice, of Cole Camp.

Doug Light, of Jefferson City, will coach the fourth-seeded team.

The Central squad will meet the No. 5  South Central team at 12:30 p.m. Friday.

Despite the seeding, the Central team appears to be a heavy favorite.

The squad features 10 all-staters. Nine of them made the media’s all-state team. Sydney Crafton, of Jefferson City, and Maci Wisdom, of Skyline, were first-teamers.

McMullin, The Democrat’s player of the year, made the coaches’ all-state team.

The South Central squad has only three all-staters. Hailee Parks, of Sullivan, is the team’s only first-teamer.

All-first round games will be Friday. The semifinals and championship games are set for Saturday.