Sparta’s boys likely will have to get past both Greenwood and Fair Grove to repeat as Class 3 District 11 champions.
The Trojans conceded they would be the No. 2 seed following their loss to the Eagles two weeks ago and that indeed is how the District’s coaches voted.
Fair Grove (18-5) is the No. 1 seed, Sparta (19-5) No. 2, Greenwood (18-3) No. 3, Forsyth (15-7) No. 4, Pleasant Hope (15-6) No. 5, Conway (6-17) No. 6 and New Covenant (5-14) No. 7.
Fair Grove earned its top seed on the strength of winning 11 of its last 12 games entering tonight’s game with Forsyth. The Eagles’ signature wins have come against Sparta, Rogersville and Keys (Oklahoma). They have 11 wins against opponents with a winning record.
Sparta started the season by winning 10 of its first 11 games. That stretch included a 43-40 Blue & Gold Tournament victory against Greenwood. The Trojans are 8-5 against teams with a winning record.
Greenwood arguably would have been in line for the No. 1 seed prior to losses over the past week to RUSH and Rogersville. The Blue Jays have 10 wins against teams with a winning record and beat Class 6 Ozark.
Forsyth coach Kevin Smith has turned in one of the best coaching jobs in SWMO, after the Panthers lost 6-foot-11 junior center Tanner Baird to Link Academy.
Not too many Districts statewide will feature a better first-round matchup than Forsyth-Pleasant Hope, with both teams already at 15 wins.
Sparta, which will host the District Feb. 20-24, will meet New Covenant in the first round. Warriors coach Ryan Worley coached the Trojans in the 2012-2013 season.
Strafford, a long-time Class 3 District 11 participant, has been bumped up to Class 4 on the boys side.
