By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Five consecutive state championships.
It’s never been done by a Missouri girls basketball team before.
With one more win, the Strafford Lady Indians can be the program that finally does it.
Strafford, behind its hot perimeter shooting, smoked Whitfield 67-49 in Friday’s Class 3 girls’ Show-Me Showdown semifinals at JQH Arena in Springfield.
Everything seemed to be falling for Strafford.
Six Lady Indians made 3-pointers. Strafford shot 10-for-20 from 3 overall.
Senior forward Logan Jones had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore point guard Emma Compton led four Strafford players in double figures with 18 points.
Compton shot 3-for-5 from 3.
“Usually, I’m not a big 3-point shooter so I was kind of surprised myself,” Compton said. “I guess they fell and I got lucky. I’m just glad the rest of the team stepped up, too.”
Strafford, the four-time defending state champ in Class 3, faces Licking at noon Saturday in the Class 3 state title game.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
“Unbelievable day for these young ladies, this team and this program,” said Strafford coach Dustin Larsen. “I can’t speak enough of how proud we are of the focus, effort and continued belief.”
Strafford is on the cusp of history. No girls’ high school basketball program in Missouri has ever won five straight state championships.
Four programs have won four state titles in a row, most recently Crane (2013-16).
“I’ve always been a present guy,” Larsen said. “The past, you appreciate it. We want to uphold the tradition of Strafford Basketball at the highest level. I think this group continues to do that.
“It’s a daunting thing to think about but at the end of the day, you have to worry about what you control.”
This version of Strafford features four new starters and a new head coach.
“It would mean a lot for us,” said Strafford senior Taylor Dormann, who joined the team last season as a move-in from Nebraska. “Overall, we didn’t play a lot together last year. We stepped into new roles, new coach this year.
“I feel like this one hits a little bit different. It’s more meaningful for this team.”
Strafford (29-3 overall) seized control in the second quarter, when it outscored Whitfield 21-8. The Lady Indians scored 11 unanswered to close the first half and led 35-18 at halftime.
Jones made back-to-back 3s in the third quarter that put Strafford ahead 47-26. She pumped her first in the air after making the second one.
“I’m so proud of my teammates,” Jones said. “We came out from the tip ready to play. We knew (Whitfield) would want to come at us. I think we just had more heart at the end of the day.”
Strafford withstood a couple of Whitfield rallies the rest of the way.
It’s the third time in four years that Strafford has defeated Whitfield at the final four.
The Lady Indians beat Whitfield 83-37 in the 2017 state title game and 67-50 in the 2018 semifinals.
Strafford out-rebounded Whitfield 33-21. Whitfield’s starting lineup featured three players 5’10” or taller.
Mica Chadwell and Dormann also scored in double figures for Strafford.
“We talk a lot about being a team. Anyone on this team can step up,” Larsen said. “They’ve been so selfless and focused on being the best team.”
Strafford 67, Whitfield 49
Whitfield 10 8 19 12 — 49
Strafford 14 21 18 14 — 67
Whitfield (26-6 overall) – Brooklyn Rhodes 14, Jade Moore 14, Kelsey Blakemore 11, Tkiyah Nelson 6, Treazure Jackson 4
Strafford (29-3 overall) – Emma Compton 18, Logan Jones 14, Taylor Dormann 12, Mica Chadwell 11, Taylor Treat 7, Emma Mullings 5
