The inductions held earlier this week at the Basketball Luncheon for the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame included several with Lakes Region connections.

Steve Frank's connection to the region began when he played two years of basketball at College of the Ozarks then later, spent three seasons at Hollister High School as the Boys Basketball Coach. He later coached Girls Basketball at Strafford leading them to four straight Girls Basketball State Championships. Frank is now in his second year as an assistant coach for the C of O Lady Bobcat Basketball Team. 

Casey Garrison Powell was a high school standout at Bolivar and later at Missouri State University but was a student in the Forsyth School District several years prior to her family's move to Bolivar. 

The Filbert Five selections, honoring basketball players who made a positive impact during their careers, also featured a Forsyth connection as 1990 graduate Honey Scott Pickren, who started four years for the Lady Panthers and averaged over 24 points a game 12 rebounds here senior year. She later played at Moberly Area Community College and Missouri Southern State University. 

Also on the Filbert Five was Sam Pugh, a 2011 graduate of Branson High School and a three-year starter for the Pirates, which included averaging 15 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists a game his senior year. Pugh helped the Pirates win two District Basketball Championships in three years.

(Information provided by Missouri Sports Hall of Fame)