Kaelin's Corner: Dunklin County basketball teams to watch in 2025

The Holiday season has come and gone, but there is still much more basketball left this winter.

Most of our Dunklin County area team competed in some Holiday tournaments in the closing of 2024 and showed their potential against some of the top competition in Southeast Missouri. Here are the teams I believe gave the best performances and teams to keep an eye on through the remainder of this basketball season in 2025.

Campbell Camels boys are not here to joke around this season. They have rallied through to a strong 9-1 start in the 2024 portion of their season. They capped off the year with a first-place trophy from the Senath-Hornersville Christmas Tournament and a nine-game win streak. They currently have the best record in Dunklin County behind the coaching of Steve Fowler. Senior Layden Kellum is a clear leader for this aggressive squad along with his counterpart Drew Fowler. They are the usual scoring leaders for this club, both able to knock down the three and get inside of the pain. Drew Fowler is also a dagger from the free-throw line and will convert those fouls into points. This is definitely a team to keep an eye on through the remainder of their 2025 schedule and potential state qualifiers in their Class 2 District 1 assignment.

However, Campbell’s biggest challenge in their district would be the Senath-Hornersville Lions. They currently sit right behind the Camels with a 7-2 start. Despite losing to Campbell in the championship game of their own holiday tournament, this Lions team has proven to be a threat in Class 2. Outside of taking second place to Campbell and dropping their first game of the season to Kennett, Senath-Hornersivlle has been blowing their opponents away. Senior Adyn (Spencer) Goff is hard to stop when he gets hot. He proved this in their Christmas tournament when he led his team to the championship game with multiple 20 + point performances. He tends to come out clutch in the second half and teams can have a hard time guarding him when he starts scoring. According to the head coach Kyle Moore, this could be a breakout season for him and this has willed the Lions onto my list of teams to watch out for in 2025.

The Risco Tigers boys are on their A-game every time they touch the floor. Their game starts with their defense. With Risco’s height, most teams are being forced to score outside of the paint. This is only their first advantage. The second advantage is their transition game, forcing teams to run with them. Brandon Blankenship has these boys in shape, no doubt. Moreover, they have the seniority and basketball IQ to know when to slow things down as well. They have so many ways to hurt their opponents which has led to their 9-2 start and 5th palace finish at the Bloomfield Christmas Classic. Senior Sammy Smith is one of the most versatile players to guard. He can post up or he can slash and get to the rim. He can put up an acrobatic layup or he can slam one down. Also, he has range and can shoot from virtually anywhere around the three-point line. He is trouble for whoever is matched to guard him, regularly scoring 20 points or sometimes 30 points per game. Right by his side is junior post Owen Fortner who also had multiple 30-game performances this season already. Their 23-5 season last year was cut short at the District Championship game, preventing them from a run at State. Every game since then is proving their worth of a Class 1 Distict 1 Championship. They will be fun to follow through this winter cycle.

My whole heart goes out to the Malden Green Wave girls, who lost their coach during the preseason. Verbally dedicating each game this year to Ron Riddle and his family, the Green Wave has become a nearly unstoppable rolling tide. Tye Miller took over and led this group of girls to a 7-2 start. Despite losing in the first round of the Lady Royal Christmas Classic to host team Twin Rivers, they were able to bounce back and take the Consolation Championship. This is a team full of hustle. There are no lazy players on the floor at any given moment, everyone is playing their part and doing it well. Malden’s talents lie in all grade levels. Senior point guard Mariah Loyah does a good job leading Malden. She distributes the ball well, picking up numerous assists, and can score when her team needs her to. Along with her, sophomore Carsyn Cohen and freshman Mynena Thornton are consistent counterparts to Loyah, normally leading the Green Wave in the scoring column. Riddle lifted this team to their best finish since 2017 last season, this year they are hoping to finish what was started with him and win their Class 2 District 1 assignment.

The Kennett Indians girls are also coming off their best season season placing third at state in 2011. They were 21-5 last year behind first-yead head coach Erika Cobb. Her coaching has made the Indians a threat to every team they face. More importantly, sophomore guard Alyce Edwards has become the face of Kennett basketball. With Edwards, Kennett has gotten off to a 5-5 start and placed 6th at the Lady Royal’s Classic. However, Edwards was virtually unstoppable throughout the entire tournament while averaging 25 points per game. She even put up 31 in their victory over East Carter. She is probably the hardest player for any team to guard and the most fun to watch for any basketball fan in Dunklin County. Lucky for us, she is only a sophomore.