by Jordan Burton
Clinging to a four-point lead in the second quarter with three starters carrying two fouls each, Strafford’s Steve Frank had a decision to make, sit them or play them.
Frank opted to stay with starters Hayley Frank, Kayley Frank and Zoe Mullings, which led to Strafford outscoring Walnut Grove 16-7 in the final three minutes of the half, propelling the Lady Indians to a 42-29 halftime lead – helping Strafford top Walnut Grove 79-53 in the championship of the Ash Grove Tournament.
“They have to learn to play in those situations,” said Frank. “We didn’t really have a great flow yet and I felt like it was important to try to establish something before the end of the half. They’ve played in a lot of big games and they know in a situation like that they’ve got to keep themselves in. It’s good to have that situation early in the season and for them that play through it.”
In what was a physical game – 13 fouls were called in the first quarter – both teams struggled to get into a groove.
Senior Bayley Harman and freshman Faith Gilkey scored 15 of Walnut Grove’s 17 points in the first quarter, which finished deadlocked at 17. Strafford struggled to defend the Lady Tigers dribble drive which allowed Gilkey and Harman to attack seams.
Frank and the Lady Indians adjusted defensively to keep Walnut Grove out of the paint and force the Lady Tigers to finish over the top of bigger Strafford defenders.
Walnut Grove managed just 23 points in the second and third quarters, making just three field goals in 16 minutes.
“Walnut Grove is really good and they’ve got some kids that can flat play; they came out and punched us in the mouth to start the game,” said Frank. “They’re very quick and fundamental. Walnut Grove is the real deal.
“We were able to settle in defensively and contain the drive and do a better job on the backdoors after the first quarter.”
Junior Mizzou commit Hayley Frank finished with a game-high 34 points. Classmate Madison Chittenden added 18. Harman scored 18 points for Walnut Grove, Gilkey chipped in 13.
The win extended Strafford’s winning streak to 52 games. The Lady Indians haven’t lost since January 2016.
It also gives Frank and company yet another win over a marquee opponent. But, as the winning streak continues to grow – along with the target on their back – Strafford must adjust to the pressure of expectations and the threat of complacency.
“I keep reminding them that night after night they’re going to get everyone’s best game,” said Frank. “Tonight was a good lesson for them that we have to come out ready to play. Sometimes the toughest part about it is maintaining that hunger and intensity level might after night.”
For Rory Henry and Walnut Grove, this is the first of what will be a season full of elite barometer games.
The Class 1 Lady Tigers have five games against Class 4-5 programs, in addition to the Lebanon Tournament and playing defending Class 2 state champion Skyline.
After coming up short of state titles in back-to-back Final Fours, Walnut Grove is eager to be prepared come March.
“That game was a great opportunity for us to play the best team in the state regardless of class and the best defensive team we’ll see hands down “We knew coming in that we wanted to go at them and make it as hard on them as we possibly could. Our kids battled and they played hard. We did some great things and we accomplished some of the things we wanted to accomplish. If we can do that against Strafford then we can do that against any team in Class 1.
“They’re the best team in the state and I felt like we played them well and I’m so proud of the way my kids battled. No matter who we see in Class 1, we’re not going to see Strafford,” said Walnut Grove coach Rory Henry. “Nobody is going to be Ozark. Nobody is going to be the teams we’ll see in the Lebanon Tournament. If we’re able to run offense and turn those teams over then I feel like we’ll be able to do it against everyone in Class 1. We may have a handful of losses by the end of the year but the ultimate goal is to win a state championship.”
Strafford 79, Walnut Grove 53
Walnut Grove 17-12-11-13 – 53
Strafford 17-25-17-20 – 79
Walnut Grove (2-1): Harman 18, Gilkey 13, Miller 7, McPhail 6, Johnson 4, Hailey 3, Steven 2
Strafford (3-0): H. Frank 34, Chittenden 18, K. Frank 10, Mullings 7, Jones 4, Compton 3, Chadwell 3
