Here are capsule looks at the Class 1 Final Four teams:
St. Elizabeth (23-5)
Coach: Dillon Tenholder (38-17 overall, 38-17 at St. Elizabeth).
Final Regular Season Ranking: No. 8.
Team Notes: St. Elizabeth won 10 consecutive games after losing its season opener to Licking, its longest winning streak of the season. The streak was snapped with a 65-31 loss to Battle in the championship game of the Linn Tournament. The Hornets began the season ranked No. 6 in Class 1. They have been ranked as high as No. 5 and as low as No. 10, but the Hornets have been ranked in every poll. St. Elizabeth cruised to a District 7 championship, the program's first district title since 2012. The Hornets won by an average margin of 36.3 points during the district tournament. To get to the Final Four, St. Elizabeth defeated Concordia 58-43 in the sectionals and fourth-ranked Lakeland 91-70 in the quarterfinals. The Hornets average 66.2 points per game, led by forward Ross Struemph (6-8 jr.) with 18.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He has scored more than 500 points in each of the past two seasons. Guard Nolan Heckemeyer (6-4 jr.) also averages double figures at 11.6 points per game. St. Elizabeth has held opponents to 48.6 points per game, the third-best scoring defense among the Final Four teams. Jefferson: Conception Junction has allowed just 35.1 points per game, while Dora gives up an average of 47.9. In their previous Final Four appearances, the Hornets finished second in Class 1 in 2004 and third in 2005.
Dora (29-1)
Coach: Rick Luna (228-121 overall, 228-121 at Dora).
Final Regular Season Ranking: No. 1.
Team Notes: Dora suffered its only loss Dec. 15, an 81-54 defeat in the Viola (Ark.) Shootout at the hands of Izard County (Ark.), which has a 41-4 record. Izard County is playing Nevada today in the Arkansas Class 1A state championship game. The Falcons have won 22 straight games since that loss. Their 73.5 points per game is the highest scoring average of the Final Four participants. Dora has scored 80 or more points 11 times this season, including three times in its five postseason games (97-34 win vs. Couch in district quarterfinals, 90-50 win vs. Koshkonong in district semifinals, 81-44 win vs. Chadwick in state sectionals). The Falcons defeated Risco 74-37 in the quarterfinals to advance to the program's first Final Four. They lost 78-62 in the state quarterfinals last season to Eminence, which went on to win the state championship. Dora won the rematch 64-59 in this year's district final. Returning all-state guard Isaac Haney (6-0 soph.) leads the Falcons with 28.1 points per game. He surpassed 1,500 career points in the quarterfinal win. Dora also starts sophomore guards Bryson Luna (5-11), Mason Luna (5-11) and Auston Luna (5-11), who are triplets and the sons of head coach Rick Luna. Bryson and Mason Luna each average around 13 points per game. Kyle Hambelton, a junior, is the only upperclassman on Dora's roster.
Jefferson: Conception Junction (26-4)
Coach: Tim Jermain (612-189 overall, 444-92 at Jefferson: Conception Junction).
Final Regular Season Ranking: No. 7.
Team Notes: Jefferson: Conception Junction will be playing in its eighth Final Four, and its first since 2011. The Eagles won three straight Class 1 championships from 2006-08 and finished runner-up in 2005. The Eagles have won 11 straight games since losing 54-51 on Jan. 26 to Mound City in the championship game of the North Platte Tournament. Jefferson: Conception Junction lost three times to Mound City in the regular season, then won 61-45 against Panthers in the state sectionals. The Eagles' other loss was 58-51 in overtime to Falls City (Neb.) Sacred Heart. Jefferson: Conception Junction averages 65 points per game and has defeated opponents by 30 or more points 16 times this season. The most-lopsided score was a 77-9 win Jan. 4 at Osborn. The Eagles have four starters averaging points in double figures. Forward Clayton Merrigan (6-2 jr.) leads the way with 13.4 points per game. Chase Farnan (6-6 jr.) is next at 12.0 ppg, followed by Koby Stoll (6-0 sr.) at 10.8 and Nathan Jermain (5-11 sr.) at 10.4. Head coach Tim Jermain, who is also the school's superintendent, has led Jefferson: Conception Junction to its three state titles. The Eagles defeated second-ranked Winston 55-39 in the quarterfinals. Winston was the last remaining undefeated team in Class 1.
Linn County (15-7)
Coach: Jason White (224-163 overall, 85-50 at Linn County).
Final Regular Season Ranking: Not ranked.
Team Notes: Linn County had six regular-season games snowed out, leaving the Mustangs with just 17 games entering the postseason. The Mustangs defeated La Plata 56-42 to win their second district title in three years. They then won 60-58 on a last-second shot against Slater in the sectionals and followed that with a 55-49 victory against Wellsville in the quarterfinals. This is Linn County's first Final Four appearance since 1967, when it finished fourth in Class S. The Mustangs are averaging 67 points per game while holding opponents to 54.1 points. Linn County's starting five has accounted for 92.9 percent of the team's scoring this season. The Mustangs are led by forward Jase White (6-1 sr.), who is averaging 21.2 points and 10.9 rebounds. Center Chadley Waltz (6-4 sr.) is also averaging a double-double of 17.1 points and 11.4 rebounds. Linn County is a member of the Tri-County Conference in the northeastern region of Missouri. The Mustangs led all Final Four teams with an average of 36.3 rebounds per game as a team.
- Greg Jackson