Slow start dooms resilient Hartville in Class 2 semifinals

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By Matt Turer // @MattTurer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A slow start by Hartville was coupled by a fast start by Mid-Buchanan. Together, it was too much for the Eagles to overcome.

Grace Culver led all scorers with 22 points and Sadie Chisum added 15 for the Eagles, but Hartville fell 57-53 to the Mid-Buchanan Dragons in the Class 2 semifinals inside JQH Arena on Friday night.

“Things didn’t go the way we hoped tonight,” Hartville head coach Mike Percival said. “We didn’t shoot it extremely well, and Mid-Buchanan did some good things that made it difficult for us. You’ve gotta give our kids credit. They stayed after it and fought to the end.”

Appearing in its first Final Four since capturing the state championship in 2007, Hartville found itself in a 15-point hole early in the second quarter and trailed 34-25 at the half.

That nine-point halftime deficit seemed to signal Hartville awakening from an early shooting slump after it quickly closed a 25-10 deficit to nine.

“We were a little bit cold,” Percival said. “And sometimes when we get cold we’ve had to change some things. We’ve struggled from the perimeter a couple times, and by the time we got adjusted we’ve already dug ourselves a hole that made it rough.”

Hartville shot 2-for-11 from the perimeter in the first half and finished just 2-for-18 for the game. Without the 3-point threat, the Eagles began to feed Culver inside and use Chisum’s speed on drives to the basket.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME

“Tonight we just kind of came in flat,” Chisum said. “We were all really nervous, and just didn’t come out ready to play. But once we got it down to single digits we thought we had a chance. And we did. We had our chances.”

Down 48-38 following a bucket by Gracie Livengood in the third quarter, Hartville answered by scoring 12 of the game’s next 16 points to pull within two of Mid-Buchanan.

After failing to turn over the Dragons on the following possession, Hartville was forced to foul Cali Bailey with 28 seconds remaining. Bailey hit both free throws and the Dragons responded with a defensive stop.

“The excitement is almost unreal,” Mid-Buchanan head coach Rod Elms said. “I’m starting to call them the cardiac kids. I cannot figure out. They’re finding something inside. There’s something in the air.”

Four Dragons scored in double figures, led by Gracie Livengood’s 13 points. Jaele Barber finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

“Balanced scoring has been our thing all year,” Elms said. “You try to figure out who you’re going to stop. We’re so much more balanced than even last year. I’d hate to try to guard us.”

The normally hot-shooting Eagles were anything but in the first half, shooting just 33.3 percent from the field to a 56 percent mark by the Dragons.

Culver finished with a double-double, pulling in 11 rebounds.

Hartville continued to struggle from the floor throughout the game, shooting just 19-of-61. The Eagles were able to battle back by holding the Dragons to only six made field goals over the final two quarters.

SAYING GOODBYE
Hartville only graduates two seniors, but they’re big ones. Long-time friends Culver and Chisum combined for 37 points tonight and won back-to-back district titles to end their careers.

“Out of my four years, I’m going to remember this season the most,” an emotional Chisum said. “Our team was the closest this year, and we truly care for each other a lot. Every single person was always there for each other, and that’s what got us here.”

Chisum will continue her career next season at Evangel University.

“This group was by far my favorite to ever play with,” Culver said. “They’re the most selfless group of girls I’ve ever played with in my life. That’s what’s so special about them.”

DRAGON FLU
The balance between coughs and words spoken was a tight one in Mid-Buchanan’s post-game press conference with the majority of the team battling the flu over the past week.

They say winning cures all. And between those coughs were smiles and laughs from Mid-Buchanan’s three seniors, who will face Thayer in Saturday’s Class 2 state championship.

“They know what their faith is because they believe in each other,” Elms said. “This meant a lot to them [after losing last year’s championship]. The back of our shirts say ‘Play Mad’ because we want to make a difference this year. These young ladies are a very good team.”

SCORING
HHS | 8 | 17 | 9 | 19 | — | 53 |
MBHS | 19 | 15 | 11 | 12 | — | 57 |

Hartville- Grace Culver 22, Sadie Chisum 15, Mckinley Sanders 6, Jadalyn Keith 5, Skylar Divine 3, Katherine Still 2
Mid-Buchanan- Gracie Livengood 13, Jaele Barber 12, Kelsey Stout 11, Cali Bailey 10, Hannah Parrott 4, Kayleigh Huss 4, Brylee Kemper 3

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