The Empower Sports Blitz

Ep 6 Empower Sports Blitz Podcast - 03-03-2026 - Playoffs, Predictions, and Players to Watch

Empower Sports Blitz Episode 6: Sectional Basketball Preview, Milestones & Predictions (SE Missouri) Episode 6 of the Empower Sports Blitz features Frankie Castile with Brad Smith and Jason Moore previewing sectional/quarterfinal postseason basketball across Southeast Missouri, while thanking sponsors Empower Financial Group, Coppertop Foot and Ankle Clinic, and Big Three Athletics. They recognize milestones including Miley Graham’s 51-point district semifinal for Clearwater, Neelyville’s Parker Ernst tying the school scoring record at 2,185 points, and Bunker’s Brennan Malloy posting a 37-point quadruple-double. The hosts predict key matchups: Cooter vs. Leopold, Bunker vs. Billings, and review girls results including St. Vincent over Twin Rivers, Delta’s 58–55 win over Chadwick with a Walnut Grove matchup, and Portageville advancing past Chaffee with a Bismarck game ahead. On the boys side they pick Woodland over Caruthersville, PCO over St. Vincent, and debate East Carter vs. Hayti, closing with thoughts on enjoying the moment and a pivot toward upcoming baseball/softball coverage. 00:00 Supplemental Cash Benefits 01:40 Advanced Athlete Blueprint 01:58 March Madness Kickoff 03:31 Sponsors and Shoutouts 03:46 Record Performances Spotlight 06:17 Class 1 Coer vs Leopold 09:17 Bunker vs Billings Preview 11:58 Girls Class 3 Twin Rivers 14:33 Delta Upsets Chadwick 16:40 Portageville Rolling Again 18:09 Bismarck Scouting Report 18:52 Break and Sponsor Spots 21:25 Class 3 Preview 21:37 Woodland vs Caruthersville 23:16 PCO vs St Vincent 26:47 East Carter vs Hayti Hype 30:49 Predictions and Fight Song 34:33 Final Thanks and Signoff

Empower Sports Blitz Podcast - Episode 5 -The Road to Championships in Southeast Missouri

Empower Sports Blitz Ep. 5: District Basketball Breakdown + Milestones Across Southeast Missouri Episode 5 of the Empower Sports Blitz opens with sponsor messages from Empower Financial Group and Advanced Athlete, then hosts Frankie Casteel, Jason Moore, and Brad Smith (from Jefferson City) discuss postseason high school basketball across Southeast Missouri. They criticize the MSHSAA TV viewing experience, touch on the return to neutral sites, and emphasize the intensity of district week for seniors. Jason highlights major milestones and performances, including Robert Farmer (1,500 points), Tyrique Campbell (1,000 points), Eli Hackenberg’s single-season steals record, CJ Wallace reaching 2,000 points with multiple double/triple/quadruple-doubles, Chase Bradshaw’s seven threes on 7-for-9 shooting, and Gracie Tillman’s near triple-double with zero turnovers. The group then previews and makes picks across multiple boys and girls districts in Classes 1–3, noting how several state-ranked teams will be eliminated early due to district structure, and closes with final thoughts plus a Big Three Athletics All-Star Game announcement for March 28 at Van Buren. 00:00 Supplemental Cash Benefits 01:06 Advanced Athlete Blueprint 01:24 Podcast Welcome and Hosts 01:40 Misha TV Streaming Debate 03:14 Neutral Sites Discussion 03:50 Postseason Preview Setup 05:24 Weekly Milestones Highlights 09:59 District Picks Class One Boys 16:04 Class Three Showdowns 21:26 Break and Sponsor Reads 23:16 Girls District Picks Begin 26:00 Class Two Girls Favorites 27:00 Fowler Coaching Legacy 27:52 Class 2 District 2 Picks 28:58 Becky Hale Milestone Talk 31:08 Class 2 District 3 Breakdown 33:00 Clearwater and AV Outlook 34:27 Twin Rivers District Run 36:46 Boys Class 2 District 1 39:06 Boys District 2 Showdown 43:25 District 3 Heavyweights 46:56 Final Thoughts and Signoff

Empower Sports Blitz - Ep 4 - Featuring Van Buren Boys Basketball - Bulldog Brotherhood

Van Buren Bulldogs Spotlight + Local Basketball Milestones | Empower Sports Splits Frankie Castile, Brad Smith, and Jason Moore return after a week off for a new episode of Empower Sports Splits, recapping recent tournament championships across the region (OFC, BS-C, Tri-County, and SEAA) and highlighting major individual achievements, including multiple 1,000- and 1,500-point scorers, Kinzie Barton becoming Bunker’s all-time leading scorer with 2,339 points, and Tyson Boyer Luster’s 67-point game (seventh all-time in Missouri) followed by 53. The show then features Van Buren head coach Jacob Black and players Hayes Townsley, Aiden Sullivan, and Carter Freeze, discussing the Bulldogs’ 22–3 record, top-five Class 2 ranking, team chemistry and “brotherhood,” areas to improve such as rebounding and defense, the impact of the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament atmosphere, and staying focused heading into districts. The episode includes reflections on Coach Black’s long connection to the team, assistant coach “Trick” discussing learning on the bench, a Bulldog history trivia segment about Wendell Copeland, and closing thanks to fans and sponsors Empower Financial Group USA, Coppertop Foot and Ankle Clinic, Big Three Athletics, and Advanced Athlete. 00:00 Welcome Back + What’s on Tonight’s Show 00:44 Tournament Championship Recap (OFC/BSCC, Tri-County, SEAA) 01:33 Local Milestones: 1,000 & 1,500-Point Scorers + Coaching Wins 02:58 Wild Stat Lines: 67-Point Game & Other Big Nights 05:29 Introducing Van Buren’s Coach Black (22-3, Top-5 in Class 2) 07:28 Building a Bulldog Culture: Unity, Roles, and Family 08:54 Player Spotlight: Hayes on Brotherhood, Practice, and Postseason Focus 13:51 Rankings, Pace, and the ‘Indiana Layup Drill’ (Offense vs Defense) 18:52 Break + Sponsor Messages 20:59 Player Spotlight: Aiden Sullivan on 1,500 Points & Key Wins 22:28 Big-Game Atmospheres: Bloomfield Tourney & the Yellow Sucker Game 23:47 Teamwork Over Stardom: Aiden’s Shift From Solo Carry to Shared Success 25:30 Coach’s Praise for a Selfless Roster (and the Role Players Who Swing Games) 27:41 Bloomfield Christmas Tournament: Big-Stage Atmosphere & Lessons Learned 29:14 Player Spotlight: Carter Freeze on Chemistry, Shooting, and Fun Debates 31:11 Locked In on the Next Game: Mindset, Snow-Day Workouts, and Staying Hungry 33:18 Assistant Coach Perspective: Learning Under Coach Black & Keeping It Fun 36:42 Postseason Checklist: Rebounding, Defense, Focus—and the Tough Class 2 Gauntlet 39:40 Bulldog Trivia, Legends, and Wrap-Up Thanks to Fans & Sponsors

Empower Sports Blitz Ep3 - Guests Coach Michael Snider and player Lilly Oliver of Twin Rivers Plus Coach Brad Burdin and player Zack Rollins of Neelyville

Empower Sports Blitz Episode 3: OFC Tournament Preview & Interviews with Coaches and Players In this episode of Empower Sports Blitz, the hosts dive into the upcoming OFC basketball tournament, discussing key players and games to watch. The show features an insightful interview with Coach Michael Snyder and junior player Lily Oliver from the Twin Rivers Lady Royals, discussing their season, team dynamics, and preparation for the tournament. The conversation shifts to the Neelyville Tigers with Coach Brad Burden and senior player Zach Rollins, highlighting their challenging season, team strengths, and the support of their dedicated fan base. The hosts also cover the impact of the recent snowstorm on the season and future matchups to look forward to. Tune in for a comprehensive overview of high school basketball in Southeast Missouri and hear from those directly involved in shaping the local sports scene. 00:00 Introduction to Empower Financial Group 00:39 Welcome to Empower Sports Blitz 01:04 Basketball Highlights and Career Milestones 03:15 Interview with Coach Michael Snyder and Lily Oliver 08:02 Coaching Challenges and Team Aspirations 17:20 Community Support and Future Goals 21:27 Interview with Coach Brad Burden and Zach Rollins 23:26 The Competitive Landscape 23:48 Season Highlights and Challenges 24:10 Senior Reflections with Zach Rollins 25:20 Coach Brad Bird's Practice Philosophy 27:52 The Influence of Becky Hale 29:52 The Rodeo Connection 31:06 Senior Legacy and Future Plans 36:08 Community Support and Final Thoughts

Empower Sports Blitz Episode 2: Athlete Spotlight with Special Guest Parker Ernst and Corey Haygood

Empower Sports Blitz Episode 2: Southeast Missouri Athlete Spotlight Join host Frankie Casteel and guests Jason Moore, Brad Smith, and special guest Parker Ernst on this exciting episode of the Empower Sports Blitz. This week, we dive into the latest updates and accomplishments in Southeast Missouri high school sports. Highlights include standout athlete performances, upcoming tournaments, and rankings. Parker Ernst, a premier women's basketball player, discusses her journey, playing style, and future plans. Additionally, Corey Haygood from Doniphan shares insights into his team's season and his personal aspirations. Brought to you by Empower Financial Group, USA, Big Three Athletics, and Coppertop Foot and Ankle Clinic, this episode is a must-watch for all local sports enthusiasts. 00:00 Welcome to the Empower Sports Blitz 00:52 Local Athlete Highlights and Achievements 03:30 Interview with Parker Ernst 05:54 Parker's Reflections and Future Plans 13:45 Thank You and Farewell to Parker 18:02 Upcoming Guest: Corey Haygood 18:32 Sponsor Messages and Break 19:45 Welcome Back and Introduction 21:00 Discussing the Season and Preparation 22:00 Coaching and Team Dynamics 24:07 Playing for Donovan Dons 25:51 Future Plans and Family Competition 27:44 Podcast Experience and School Spirit 31:03 Goals for the Season 31:51 Final Thoughts and Farewell