By Phillip Suitts (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
VAN BUREN, Mo. — When the clock hit zero, the Bradleyville girls basketball team could finally celebrate.
The Lady Eagles rushed over to their bench, forming a circle full of smiles and hugs. For the first time in program history, they are headed to the state final four.
Bradleyville jumped on Scott County Central early and cruised to an 87-55 win in a Class 1 quarterfinal at Van Buren High School on Saturday.
“It’s unbelievable. I’m just so proud of this group of girls,” Bradleyville coach Autumn Thomas said. “They’ve worked really, really hard to get to where they are, a lot of time in the summer, and they deserve it because of how hard they’ve worked. I’m kind of speechless.”
Bradleyville will face the winner of Glasgow-Norborne in a state semifinal at 11 a.m. Friday in Springfield, Missouri.
Against SCC, Kourtney Shipley scored a game-high 25 points while Tay Sims (15 points, 15 rebounds), Emily Williams (14 points, 12 rebounds) and Gracie Shipley (17 points, 12 rebounds) all finished with double-doubles.
Bradleyville (25-5) out-rebounded SCC (16-11) 53-26, and that dominance on the boards led to second and third-chance opportunities.
“I’ve had three girls this season get 10 or more rebounds in a lot of games,” Thomas said. “So we’re really a good rebounding team because we know to get in there and get in front and rebound.”
Gracie Shipley entered the game averaging a double-double and has over 17 double-doubles this season, according to Dodd.
That rebounding prowess was on display against a similarly-sized Bravettes team.
“They were just tougher down low than us and that’s a credit to them,” SCC coach Matt Limbaugh said. “They played hard.”
Playing in its first-ever state quarterfinal game, the Lady Eagles showed no nerves early, scoring the first five points and holding SCC scoreless for over two minutes.
At the first of the first quarter, Bradleyville led 17-12. The Lady Eagles began the second on an 11-2 run and led by 17 points at halftime, 45-28.
“At halftime I just told them the main thing is to focus on defense because they’re going to come out third quarter fighting hard, wanting to pull within reach,” Thomas said. “I told them to take care of the ball and play good defense.”
Bradleyville listened to its coach and didn’t let up in the second half as SCC finished the game with four players on the court — after two fouled out and one went down injured. SCC has seven players on its roster.
Trinity Thomas led the Bravettes with 17 points while BreAsia Jones added 14 points.
But it wasn’t enough as SCC never got closer than 14 points in the second half. All that was left was the celebration.
That began when the final buzzer sounded and continued with a customary on-court team photo after the game and carried over into a jubilant locker room.
The state semifinals can wait. For now, Bradleyville will savor its historic accomplishment.
“We told the girls we’re very proud of them for getting as far as they did and for their play today,'” Thomas said. “Scott County Central has a good team. I thought we played well, so I was just congratulating them and telling them we made it to the final four for the first time in history.”
Scott Co. Central 12 16 16 11 — 55
Bradleyville 17 28 23 19 – 87
SCOTT COUNTY CENTRAL (55) —Samantha Coffee 7, BreAsia Jones 14, Trinity Thomas 17, Natalie Hubbert 9, Hailey Kesler 2, Hannah Bode 2, Rita Meeker 4. FG 19, FT 13-24, F 24. (3-pointers: Hubbert 3, Jones. Fouled out: Jones, Bode.)
BRADLEYVILLE (87) —Tay Simms 15, Anna Turner 7, Dorian Hayes 9, Emily Williams 14, Gracie Shipley 17, Kourtney Shipley 25. FG 30, FT 21-32, F 19. (3-pointers: K. Shipley 3, Hayes 2, Williams. Fouled out: None.)
