Howell Central, Zumwalt West, All Set for Girls Hoops Showdown Saturday at UMSL

MSHSAA CLASS 5 PLAYOFFS – GIRLS BASKETBALL GAME PREVIEW

Fort Zumwalt West Lady Jaguars (24-5)  vs.  Francis Howell Central Lady Spartans (20-9) Saturday, March 3, 2012 – 1 p.m. – UMSL Mark Twain Gymnasium

ST. LOUIS—Two of the area's best high school girls basketball teams will hook up Saturday afternoon at UMSL, in a state quarterfinal matchup that will send one of them to the Class 5 Final Four in Columbia next weekend, and the other home for the offseason.

The and the Francis Howell Central Spartans are familiar foes that meet every year as annual contenders for the GAC South crown, which West won this year.

But on Saturday, they'll meet with a much bigger prize on the line—a trip to the Final Four.

West has made it that far before, earning a trip to the state semifinals just two seasons ago in 2010, while Howell Central has never been, but could be in store for the biggest weekend in its program history if the Spartans can knock off the Jags on Saturday.

Both teams feature a primetime scorer with senior Marina Laramie leading Zumwalt West, and fellow senior Sharese Jones pacing Howell Central.

Jones was actually the leading scorer in the GAC South this season, with a 19.9 ppg average, while Laramie finished right behind at 16.2 ppg this year.

It should also be quite a matchup at the point guard position, with West’s Paige Westbrook (75 assists, 86 steals) squaring off against Central’s Katy Gerler (58 assists, 78 steals).

Here’s an inside look at both clubs as they head into Saturday afternoon’s huge matchup at UMSL:

Ft. Zumwalt West Jaguars (24-5)

• Conference: Gateway Athletic South
• Head Coach: Monica Tritz
• Probable Starters: Marina Laramie (F) – Sr., 6’1; Kelsey Kingsborough (F) – Sr., 5’9; Paige Westbrook (G) – Sr., 5‘7; Kylie Ellison (G) – Sr., 5‘9; Katie Hare (G/F) -- Sr., 5‘9.
• Key Reserves: Taylor Fuchs (F) – Sr., 5’7; Laxie Moe (G/F) – Frosh., 5’9 ; Max Sidney (F) – Jr., 6’7, 290; Jordan Singer (G) – Sr., 5’11, 165.
• Top Performers: Laramie (16.2 ppg, 8.2 rebs/game, 49 assists, 44 steals); Kingsborough (10.5 ppg, 6.6 rebs/game); Westbrook (9.5 ppg, 75 assists, 86 steals); Ellison (6.0 ppg, 28 three-pointers).

Francis Howell Central Spartans (20-9)

• Conference: Gateway Athletic South
• Head Coach: Brian Ricker
• Probable Starters: Sharese Jones (G/F) – Sr., 5’8; Brea Gegg (C) – Sr., 6’2; Grace Wade (F/C) – Jr., 6’0; Katy Gerler (G) – Jr., 5’9; Torrey Wilson (G) – Sr., 5’5.
• Key Reserves: Jazmine Davis (F) – Sr., 5’7; Jessica Rekosh (F/C) -- Sr., 5’10.
• Top Performers: Jones (19.9 ppg, 7.2 rebs/game, 45 three-pointers, 61 assists, 58 steals); Gegg (6.6 ppg, 5.0 rebs/game).

Winner Will Play: Blue Springs/Lee's Summit winner in state semifinals on March 8 at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

State Championship Game: The 2012 MSHSAA Class 5 Girls Basketball State Championship Game is scheduled for Saturday, March 10, at 3 p.m. at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.