Late run pushes Lebanon past Skyline

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By Jordan Burton

Brendan Kelley is in his fourth year at Lebanon and you can make an argument that Wednesday night’s win over Skyline is the biggest in his tenure.

Not because of the fact that it came in the area’s premier girls basketball event or because it came against a Skyline team that had turbo-clocked all eight opponents this year and is by far the best Class 2 team in Missouri.

It was the fact that his Yellow Jackets – trailing by five with three minutes to play – were able to end the game on a 14-3 run, stunning one of the most experienced rosters in the Ozarks with a 59-53 comeback to clinch a spot in the White Division semifinals in the Pink and White Lady Classic.

“I’m really proud; a couple of years ago we wouldn’t have won that game,” said Kelley. “I don’t think mentally we were in a place to do that. With the four seniors we have that have been in the program for four years their leadership took over. Really proud of our kids and the way they played.”

Lebanon out-willed one of the state’s grittiest teams in a knockout, drag-out game that featured 41 fouls and 42 turnovers.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME

It seemed like Skyline had taken control of the game for good after withstanding a quick Lebanon spurt to start the fourth quarter, with senior Lauren Wouters burying a corner 3 that put the Lady Tigers up 50-45. She finished with 12 points.

That shot was countered by a budding star that many people outside of Lebanon not know yet, but they will soon.

Sophomore guard Kamryn Mack…

The 5-foot-6 standout set a career-high with 13 points, seven of which came following Wouter’s triple. In fact, Mack scored or assisted on 10 of Lebanon’s final 14 points.

“She brings an unbelievable amount of energy to the floor,” said Kelley. “She’s a great ball handler but the energy she brings can’t be overstated; she lifts us up in those tough moments. Last year we had to work with her about understanding game situations and now she’s really starting to get it. She’s always been skilled, now she’s really getting those situations.”

Mack’s explosion complemented another incredible performance by senior Kelsey Winfrey. The Mizzou commit poured in a game-high 27 points to go along with nine rebounds and four steals.

More than half of those points (14) came in the first half when it seemed like Skyline might try to run away from Lebanon, pushing its lead to double figures for the first time late in the second quarter before Winfrey’s final bucket of the half cut the deficit to eight points.

Legendary Skyline coach Kevin Cheek had warned his team about Lebanon’s standout.

“You’re not going to stop her off the dribble with one defender,” said Cheek. “She has a great ability to split defenders and there were several times that we needed to take one more step in help. She does a tremendous job at finishing at the rim and she’s also great at finding her teammates and making the right play. She had 27, she came in averaging 25, and I told our kids if she got 20 that we would probably lose.”

Skyline sophomore Kaylee DaMitz continued what has been a stellar junior campaign by exploding for 23 points, 13 of which came in a second quarter that saw Skyline outscore Lebanon 15-8. Of the 23 points scored in the frame, 19 of them were scored by DaMitz or Winfrey.

While most Class 2 teams would have been satisfied with going blow-for-blow with a one-loss Class 5 team, most teams aren’t Skyline and most coaches aren’t Kevin Cheek. As player after player filed out of the locker room following the defeat, each face wore an expression of regret with the Lady Tigers feeling like they let one get away.

“When you’re up nine at halftime and up five with three or four minutes left we should win the game,” said Cheek. “We did a lot of things and had some casual turnovers that hurt us. We had some kids that didn’t play very well and they tried to battle but it’s been awhile since we’ve had to play four quarters and I think our kids forgot how to do that.”

Skyline will look to regroup against Mid-Lakes rival Fair Grove. The Lady Eagles also lost to a Class 5 opponent on Wednesday – defending state champion Kickapoo.

These two perennial powers are no strangers to each other with 14 meetings since 2008. Skyline has dominated the matchup in that time, winning 12 of those games including six straight.

Lebanon will also try to get over the hump against conference rival Kickapoo. The Jackets are 0-4 against Kickapoo since Kelley took over and have dropped all four meetings by at least 17 points.

The Lady Jackets lone loss this season came on the road against Strafford, who very well may be the best team in Missouri. Thursday is a chance for Lebanon to insert its name into the state’s elite.

“Anytime you have an opportunity to play for a tournament championship it’s a big deal,” said Kelley. “We’re excited about. Kickapoo got a scare from Fair Grove. You know that they’re going to bring it and they’ve got several players that can hurt you. In the four years I’ve been here we’ve never beaten Kickapoo and that’s the goal, but we understand at the same time that they’re a very good basketball team and that we’re going to have to have our hands full.”

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