By Matt Turer — mturer@ky3.com
@MattTurer
Lebanon, Mo. — Kelsey Winfrey took the opening tip and drove it down Waynesville’s throat. It took all of four seconds, but it was a play that defined Lebanon’s decisive 43-point win in a matchup that had gone viral after each upset state-ranked schools over the past week.
Lebanon did everything right Thursday, outscoring Waynesville 50-11 over the second and third quarters behind a high-efficiency offense and an active, turnover-inducing defense. That combo was a perfect recipe in a 73-40 Yellowjackets win that came just three days after MBCA No. 10 Lebanon (10-4) upset Class 5 No. 1 Jefferson City (13-1) and seven days after Waynesville (9-4) upset C5 No. 5 Hickman (11-3).
CLICK HERE FOR WAYNESVILLE VS. LEBANON PHOTOS
“With our big win on Monday against Jeff City, I kind of thought one of two things were going to happen,” Lebanon head coach Brendan Kelley said. “We were either going to come out a little bit flat off that high, or we were going to come out feeling like we had something to prove to prove what happened to Jeff City wasn’t a fluke.
“Fortunately, the second one happened. We came out and played really well, and I’m very very happy with our effort on defense tonight.”
Winfrey followed her opening layup with a 3-pointer two possessions later, quickly putting up five of her game-high 20 points.
Waynesville competed early, falling down 5-0 before going on an 8-2 run to take its first, and only, lead. The Tigers hit three 3s in the first quarter and only trailed 15-13 going into the second. Two of those threes came from Ashton Pilz, who finished with a team-high 10 points. Pilz hit a third three in the fourth quarter that would be the only other deep ball Waynesville would connect on.
“We didn’t do what we do. Hats off to Lebanon,” Waynesville head coach Brittany Matlock said. “We knew what they were going to do and we prepared and we didn’t execute, so we earned what we got.”
Lebanon’s defense limited Waynesville, ranked No. 10 in Class 5 just a week ago, to six total made field goals over the final three quarters.
“They caused us problems defensively,” Matlock said. “Outside, we weren’t our typical self and they were able to convert. They pushed the ball and knocked down tons of shots.”
Jaiden Offutt scored 12 of her 19 points in a second quarter that saw the Yellowjackets outscore Waynesville 30-7 to build a 45-20 halftime lead. Kamryn Mack and Faith Alwardt both finished with six points in the second.
Lebanon’s reserves played the entire fourth quarter.
“I honestly still don’t think we’ve seen the true potential of this team,” Kelley said.
Kelley’s Yellowjackets have responded from a three-game losing streak to C5 No. 8 Kickapoo (twice) and C5 No. 4 Rock Bridge with a three-game win streak.
“I think the two losses to Kickapoo were kind of like a wakeup call that we have the talent. We have the ability. But you have to go out every single night and prove that,” Kelley said.
“One of the big things we talked to [the team] about was [Thursday] was a huge win. You hold the No. 1 team in the state (Jeff City) to 35 points, but people will say it’s a fluke if we show up with Waynesville at home and don’t pull that game out. I think our kids took it as their personal mission to prove to everybody that they are for real, and we want to continue proving that the rest of the season.”
FINAL: Lebanon 73, Waynesville 30
Waynesville 13 7 4 6- 30
Lebanon 15 30 20 8- 73
Waynesville- Ashton Pilz 10, Kiara Shoulders 8, Re’Shawna Stone 7, Nina Kizzee 4, Katie Handley 1
Lebanon- Kelsey Winfrey 20, Jaiden Offutt 19, Kamryn Mack 14, Faith Alwardt 6, Mel Myers 6, Cori Johnson 6, Jenna Glendenning 2
