Crane downs Gainesville to get one step closer to four-peat

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Realizing a dream they have had since their freshman year, the Crane Lady Pirate seniors are heading to their fourth-straight Class 2 state semifinals. And for the second year in a row, the Gainesville Lady Bulldogs were the victim.

Behind its smothering defense, and the 21 points of Drury University signee Lexie Vaught, Crane defeated Gainesville 64-48 in the quarterfinals at the O’Reilly Family Events Center on the campus of Drury University.

“It’s exciting and this is what we’ve dreamed ever since our freshman year, once we realized, ‘Oh, wait… we can do this’ – and so now, we want the same outcome,” Vaught said. “But you never know… We have to play as hard as we ever have.”

And that’s what the Lady Pirates, who improved to 30-1, did Saturday afternoon.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME

Their offense came from an unexpected source as senior point guard Shelby Roder got things started by hitting back-to-back 3-pointers and picking up a steal, as the Lady Pirates raced to a 9-2 lead. Their full-court pressure also forced five turnovers, helping them to a 19-11 advantage.

“Shelby set the tone for us with those 3s right off the bat,” Crane coach Jeremy Mullins said. “I think it kind of deflated them (Gainesville).

“My assistant coach and I noticed Shelby this last week in practice shooting well. We said if she has an open opportunity, she needs to put it in the air.” 

Roder has been told by her coaches that she is a great defensive player, but that her offense was lacking. So, she went to work.

“I have been in the gym shooting non-stop,” Roder said. “I’ve just been working on my offense – just keep shooting and keep shooting and keep shooting – and it’s finally paying off.”

So, adding Roder’s offense to the mix, made things that much tougher for Gainesville.

“They have so many weapons offensively,” Gainesville coach Jack Harris said. “You can kind of game-plan on other people… but they have so many weapons. 

“And, they got off to such a hot start. Last time, we held Roder to one (point) and Justeen Mahan (who was injured) only had five. This time, Roder got off to a quick start and Mahan was Mahan (12 points, 6 rebounds).”

An 18-13 second quarter gave the Lady Pirates a 37-24 lead at halftime that Gainesville (27-2) could not recover from.

“We never could make up that gap that we gave them to get in the game,” Harris said. “We just kind of stayed there and battled back to within about 12, but we just couldn’t get any closer.”

And with another trip to the final four for Crane, comes another matchup with the Skyline Lady Tigers, 43-34 winners over Santa Fe in a quarterfinal matchup at Lee’s Summit High School.

Each of the last four years, Crane and Skyline have met either in the semifinals or finals. In 2013, the two teams met in the semifinals; in 2014 and 2015, they faced off in the championship; and this year, they meet again in the semifinals.

“Coach (Kevin) Cheek will always be prepared for us,” Mullins said. “It’s business as usual, and we need to go out and prepare.

“These seniors are used to the spotlight. We have to come out and handle our business.”

Saturday’s game also spelled the end of Gainesville’s Madison Strong’s high school career. The senior scored more than 2,200 points for the Lady Bulldogs.

“Overall, it was a great season,” said Strong, who has yet to make her college decision. “I love playing with such amazing teammates and such great coaches. It was a tough loss, but it was to a great team.”

And that team, which has gone 121-7 so far, is used to the O’Reilly Family Events Center, as well. The Lady Pirates have gone 16-5 at the arena, with their only loss this season coming to North Little Rock (Ark.) High School in the White Division championship of the Pink and White Lady Classic on Dec. 31, 2015.

And now, this group of seniors is going for state championship No. 4 in a row.

“I’m really excited, and I think we can do it,” Roder said. “And I think that we’re more than capable (to win it).”

CRANE 64, GAINESVILLE 48
Class 2 state quarterfinal

GAINESVILLE – 11-13-14-10—48
CRANE – 19-18-15-12—64

GAINESVILLE (27-2) – Scout Jeckstadt 16, Madison Strong 19, Annie Noah 6, Michia Jenkins 1, Destiny Scott 3, Abby Britt 3.
CRANE (30-1) – Shelby Roder 8, Lexie Vaught 21, Kylee Moore 11, Madison Fulp 12, Justeen Mahan 12.

Up next: Crane vs. Skyline, 8:20 p.m. Thursday, Class 2 semifinals, Mizzou Arena, Columbia 

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