The Missouri Basketball Coaches Association has released its first ranking of the year, and the Republic Lady Tigers are ranked third in Class 5.
The coaches ranked Springfield Kickapoo–a team Republic beat in two out of three meetings last year–as the top team in Class 5. The Lady Chiefs are 2-0.
Parkway North (5-0) is ranked second. Kirkwood (3-1), whose only loss was to Republic in the Norm Stewart Classic last weekend, is ranked fourth. Washington is fifth.
Branson, unbeaten at 3-0, and a team that knocked off Republic in the last regular season game of the year last season, is ranked sixth. Webster Groves (3-0), Liberty (1-0), Columbia Hickman (4-0), and Francis Howell (2-1) round out the top ten.