On an afternoon where she put up 21 points and 21 rebounds, Hayley Frank’s most impressive play may have occurred while the game was stopped.
With the ball wedged between the rim and backboard late in Strafford’s 80-47 win over Lutheran North, the 6’1” Frank bent her knees, took a running start and leapt high enough to calmly knock the ball down with one hand.
The action drew “aahs” from the nearby Lutheran North student section and helped Frank – the starting first baseman for the softball team in the spring rather than an all-state high jumper – achieve a lifelong goal.
“I’ve been waiting for that my whole life,” Frank laughed. “Last summer, I figured out I could do it. Me and dad (Strafford coach Steve Frank) were out there on a court and he’d get (the ball) stuck up there for me. I’ve never been able to do that in a game until now.”
Strafford did about anything it wanted, offensively, against Lutheran North as three players scored 20 or more for the defeated Indians (32-0 overall).
PHOTOS: STRAFFORD VS. LUTHERAN NORTH
College of the Ozarks commit Abby Oliver had 22 points. She also knocked down two 3-pointers and goes into Saturday’s title game needing five 3-pointers to surpass the single-season mark of 149 treys set by Chadwick alum Maddie Hursh.
Zoey Mullings led Strafford with 23 points and added a double-double with 11 rebounds. As a freshman reserve last season, she was the team’s leading scorer with 13 points in the Class 3 state title game as Strafford defeated Saxony Lutheran, 50-46.
Kayley Frank added 12 points as Strafford’s four starters – Hayley Frank, Kayley Frank, Oliver and Zoey Mullings – accounted for 78 of the team’s 80 points.
“When I start hitting stuff, the (defense) cheats toward me and that just makes Abby and Hayley so much more open and gives Kayley (Frank) a chance to get something going,” Mullings said. “When they’re on me, I just try to go get rebounds and get points off rebounds.”
Hayley Frank’s 21 rebounds are tied for the third-most in a MSHSAA girls’ basketball state final four game in history. Platte County’s Morgan Johnson (26, 2009) holds the record and Marshfield’s Stacey Nunn (23, 1988) is second.
“It’s pretty special,” Hayley Frank said. “If I can rebound, it usually opens up the rest of my game for me. Defensive rebounds, especially, with my height I can get the rebound and look over the top. We can get quick transition. That’s huge for us.”
As a team, Strafford out-rebounded Lutheran North 53-41.
Strafford goes for a repeat state title at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Mizzou Arena in Columbia versus Whitfield (25-7 overall).
“Last year, at the beginning of the year, it wasn’t expected,” said Strafford coach Steve Frank. “As the year went on, it started looking like, ‘Hey, maybe we’re better than what we think we are.’ After being able to accomplish what they did last year, the beginning of this (season) was a total different mindset and a different way for this group. Throughout the year, they’ve handled it with great passion, just loving each other and never looking ahead.”
Strafford outscored Lutheran North in every quarter, but was especially dominant in the first and last eight minutes.
Strafford led 22-8 after the first quarter and 41-26 at halftime. The Crusaders cut Strafford’s lead to 12 (53-41) late in the third, but a block by Hayley Frank – who had three in the game – led to consecutive 3s by Mullings and Oliver as Strafford scored six straight to end the frame.
The Indians slammed the door shut in the fourth, outscoring Lutheran North 21-6. Sophomore Madison Buford scored 24 to lead Lutheran North, 17 of those points coming in the first half.
As a team, Strafford shot nearly 53 percent (27-for-51) from the field. Lutheran North, a private school out of St. Louis, made only 30.6 percent of its field goal attempts (19-for-62).
“Communication is a big thing,” Oliver said. “That’s what Coach Frank stresses before the games. We always try to push our opponents to their weak hands and then always be ready to help from there.”
Steve Frank was dealing with a bit of déjà vu leading up to the game. Five years ago, his undefeated Seymour girls’ team lost its semifinal game 43-36 to Mt. Vernon. Daughters Hayley and Kayley were 5th graders.
“I was feeling the pressure of that game coming back to me and I just wanted to get this game out of the way,” Steve Frank said. “I think I feel way better now. These (girls) are why I feel that way.”
In the other Class 3 girls’ semifinal game, Whitfield (25-7 overall) defeated Trenton (27-4 overall), 53-41. Aijha Blackwell, one of three Whitfield players in double figures, scored a game-high 21.
Strafford 80, Lutheran North 47
Strafford 22 19 18 21 — 80
Lutheran North 8 18 15 6 — 47
Strafford – Zoey Mullings 23, Abby Oliver 22, Hayley Frank 21, Kayley Frank 12, Logan Jones 2
Lutheran North – Madison Buford 24, Jordyn White 13, Heaven Davis 3, Sydney Dukes 3, Kaylynn Hayden 2, Raevyn Ferguson 2
