Ivo Baltic was honestly a little surprised when our conversation began Monday about him deciding to play basketball at the University of Ohio.

"How did you know that already," he asked."I just decided this morning."

In the world of rivals.com and scout.com and tons of recruiting services, the recruiting world has become one of the most instantaneous things around.

Just two years ago George Goode was one of the most polarizing figures in high school basketball in Kansas City.
Either you loved him or hated him.

But whatever happened to the 6-8 forward from Raytown South.

If you've watched any Louisville highlights over the last few weeks you've likely seen him in the background

Kansas City has four teams playing in the Class 4 and 5 basketball championships in Columbia today.

Nixa 56 Blue Springs 39 FINAL

PLATTE COUNTY 81, WEBB CITY75 Final

UPDATED-

Here's a few thoughts from Morgan Johnson's younger sister Taylor on her sister's big night.

" <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> I don’t mind it at all." she said about her sister stealing the spotlight. "I like watching her do well and I get a ton of assists as well."

Here’s a few casual observations from the first day of the “2009 MSHSAA Basketball Championships or “2009 MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown” or as I prefer, the Missouri Class 4 and 5 state semifinals.

Not as much flair, but more meat and potatoes, like any tournament with teams like Dexter and Webb City should have.

Before everyone gets all wrapped up in the Class 4 and 5 state basketball semifinals (they'll be plenty of time for that later), it's time to take a little glance at three area teams still alive in the smaller classes.

Here's a glance at the matchups with a little bit about each local team still alive listed below. 

Missouri sectionals

How is this for a big high school basketball game.

Read this info below from the Southeast Missourian:

A boys basketball game between Scott County Central and Sikeston,
scheduled for Feb. 11, sold out 6,844 tickets for the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.
After nearly a month of discussions and negotiations, the game was announced
Jan. 21, sold more than 3,700 tickets (1,500 in the first hour) on Jan. 23,
and sold out the building earlier this week. 
The schools, about nine miles apart, have not played since Jan. 5, 1971.
Both are state ranked and by far the best two teams in this corner of the
state. Michael Porter, a three-time all-stater, leads Sikeston, while his
cousin, 6-7 sophomore Otto Portern, is one of the leading players for Scott
County, which finished third in the state in Class 1 last year.
The night also includes an Oran-Saxony Lutheran game at 6 p.m., as the four
schools agreed to alter the Feb. 10 schedule in order to make way for
SCC-Sikeston. (The doubleheader asterisk will prevent it from setting the
state record for single-game attendance.)

We've all read those best of lists.

Such as right now as I write this, the Travel Channel is doing a best of list, in search of the U.S.'s best barbecue.

Anyway that got me thinking of ways that I could get some reader input.

William Chrisman has found success using their run and gun style of offense in recent years.

They have come back from big deficits, put up gawdy offensive numbers and gained notoriety for their style of play.

But there is one team it just doesn't seem to work against -- Oak Park.

Christmas may be just eight days away, but hold off on that last trip to Zona Rosa or the mall on Saturday, because it is going to be a wonderful day for high school sports. 

Some of the top wrestling and basketball action of the season takes place on Saturday.

First in wrestling there is the Johnson County Classic at Blue Valley, which has 20 teams.