The outcome Tuesday night at Cabool High School was one the Bradleyville girls couldn’t believe and one Bunker and its 64 high school students will be talking about for a long time.
The two Eagles teams battled hard, but it was Bunker who prevailed with a 64-56 win and a ticket to the Class 1 state quarterfinals.
According to Bunker head coach Rob Harlow, the win was a long time coming.
“This is our first time in 19 years we’ve won a playoff game and this is our fourth time here. To get to that quarterfinal game is just so exciting. I’m so happy for these young ladies,” Harlow said.
But the first-round victory didn’t come easily for the team of seven girls.
Bunker (19-9) would have had a single digit first quarter if it weren’t for Lacey Bowen’s shot from the paint in the final seconds, making the score 18-11 in Bradleyville’s favor.
Not a single point was made by either team for two and a half minutes into the second quarter. After a couple of free throws from Bradleyville’s Emily Todd, Alyssa Wisdom made three 3-pointers and a layup for Bunker to help get the four-point lead at the half (26-22).
Staying in sync, Bunker continued to lead by as many as ten points throughout most of the third quarter. Bradleyville tried to catch up, but a last-second three by Jacey Skaggs gave Bunker a 42-37 lead before the final frame.
All of Bunker’s four scorers of the night combined for a total of 22 points in the fourth quarter to get their ticket to quarterfinals.
Harlow said, “This group of seniors has been in this game four times, so to win it to get here is amazing.”
Skaggs (6-foot-0), a senior, had a game-high 29 points for Bunker.
Despite Bradleyville’s season coming to an end, head coach Autumn Thomas is still proud of her Lady Eagles.
“This is only the second time in Bradleyville’s basketball history that we’ve ever won districts and came this far,” Thomas said. “They won districts in 2007 and they lost the first round of sectionals. Any coach would be very happy with a 22-6 record.”
With nine potential freshmen joining the team next year, Thomas sees another successful season for Bradleyville.
“I’m looking forward to next season. We’re going to be right back here,” she said with a smile.
Advancing in the tournament, Bunker will play a quarterfinal game against Naylor (21-7) 1 p.m. Saturday at Van Buren High School.
“We’ll get some tape on them, we’ll prepare and we’ll see what happens,” said Harlow.
BOX SCORE
Bunker: Jacey Skaggs 29, Ashlyn Wisdom 21, Lacey Bowen 4, Jessamy Stluka 4
Bradleyville: Emily Todd 20, Kourtney Shepley 15, Casey Ridings 7, Dorian Hayes 6, Mariah Clemans 3, Sophia Meltke 2
| 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | F | |
| Bunker | 11 | 15 | 16 | 22 | 64 |
| Bradleyville | 18 | 4 | 15 | 19 | 56 |
