By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
New team, same championship attitude come March.
Strafford dominated the second half and willed its way to a 56-37 win over Southern Boone in Saturday’s Class 3 girls’ quarterfinals at SBU in Bolivar.
The Lady Indians will play for a fifth straight state championship next weekend in Springfield. This year’s squad has forged its own identity.
“We felt a lot of pressure, obviously, but we were just like, ‘This is our year,’” said Strafford senior Mica Chadwell. “We wanted to go out and get it for ourselves to make it five in a row.
“I wouldn’t say it feels the same as the last four, or three, but this is special because we’re seniors now and we got to do it on our own.”
Strafford (28-3 overall) faces Whitfield (26-5 overall) at 12:50 p.m. March 13 at JQH Arena in a semifinal matchup. The winner plays in the state finals at 2:40 p.m. on March 14.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Strafford beat Whitfield in the semifinals two years ago on its way to a third straight state title.
“When you get to keep practicing and playing in March, that’s a great thing,” said Strafford coach Dustin Larsen. “(Our players) can take this thing as far as they want to take it. They’re not satisfied. They want to keep playing at the highest level.”
After a 20-all tie at halftime, Strafford outscored Southern Boone 36-17 in the second half. Four Strafford players scored nine or more, led by Logan Jones’ game-high 15. She scored 13 in the second half.
Chadwell sparked the decisive run midway through the third quarter with a three-point play that put Strafford ahead 33-28. Emma Mullings, a 5’6” sophomore, followed with a putback that gave Strafford its biggest lead of the game up to that point.
Strafford (28-3 overall) led by 11 going into the fourth quarter and Southern Boone would get no closer.
“(Our players) stay the course,” Larsen said. “They always stay with it even if things aren’t going right. They focus on what’s in front of them and the task at hand. They believe in each other and keep firing away.”
Jersee Wren scored a team-high nine for Southern Boone, which finishes 24-5 overall.
Southern Boone’s 37 points were a season low. Strafford has now held five straight opponents to 40 or fewer points this postseason.
“We pride ourselves in guarding well and these kids have taken hold of that,” Larsen said. “They’ve been so good defensively.”
The Lady Indians also had a decisive edge at the free throw line, making 17 of 24 attempts compared to Southern Boone’s 8-for-12 effort.
Strafford 56, Southern Boone 37
Southern Boone 6 14 10 7 — 37
Strafford 9 11 21 15 — 56
Strafford (28-3 overall) – Logan Jones 15, Emma Compton 11, Mica Chadwell 9, Emma Mullings 9, Taylor Dormann 7, Matti Walker 5
Southern Boone (24-5 overall) – Jersee Wren 9, Trinity Schupp 8, Mariah Prince 7, Gabrielle Bruce 5, Alexis Ussery 4, Mia Crow 2, Celissa Kennedy 2
