Walnut Grove battles through adversity to advance to Class 1 state championship

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By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)

Normally, the focus would be on Walnut Grove defeating Community 52-47 and having a chance to win a second straight state title.

Thursday was not a normal day.

Instead of a school pep rally and sendoff, Walnut Grove players spent Thursday afternoon deciding who would get their golden tickets.

Or, in this case: Wristbands that allowed access to JQH Arena to watch the Lady Tigers play Community in the Class 1 girls’ Show-Me Showdown semifinals.

“First, we just picked our family members,” said Walnut Grove junior Faith Gilkey. “When we got all that done, we (chose) the fans that come to every game and are always there to support us. We know the ones who wouldn’t want to miss it.”

On the advice of the Greene County Director of Public Health and Missouri State University, MSHSAA restricted fan access to only 150 tickets per school due to Covid-19 (Coronavirus) concerns.

Coach Rory Henry left Walnut Grove’s ticket decisions up to his players.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME

“My phone was ringing with people who I didn’t know whether I could tell them they could come or not,” Henry said. “We wanted the girls to make the decisions. I wanted them to be able to invite everyone they wanted.

“They were sitting in a classroom, calling their parents and making out lists, and crying, because they didn’t know who they could fit.”

The 300-or-so fans in attendance watched a good one.

Walnut Grove overcame a four-point deficit with six minutes remaining to defeat No.1-ranked Community, 52-47. The biggest lead for either team was six points.

“It was weird because you could hear everything that was going on,” Gilkey said. “It was so quiet. We could hear our fans cheering, but it wasn’t the same.”

Gilkey and Makayla McVay led Walnut Grove in scoring with 19 and 17, respectively. A 10-2 run in the fourth quarter helped Walnut Grove prevail.

“Our schedule prepared us for this. I truly believe that,” Henry said. “That’s why we go play Logan-Rogersville, Skyline, Troy, Belton and all those other good, bigger schools during the regular season.”

Walnut Grove, the defending state champion, will play South Nodaway at 2:40 p.m. Friday at JQH Arena in the Class 1 finals. Walnut Grove has won five state titles overall, four coming since the 2012-13 season.

“I’m proud of our kids because we battled adversity today,” Henry said. “This wasn’t an easy game to play. It’s just a strange feeling right now for everyone.”

Community hit consecutive 3-pointers to take a 41-37 lead with six minutes remaining.

“We were very close, I think, to putting it away,” said Community coach Bob Curtis. “The pendulum swung to their direction instead.”

Walnut Grove responded with a 10-2 run over the next five minutes. McVay’s 3-pointer at the 3:18 mark gave the Lady Tigers a 44-43 lead and they would not trail again.

“We put ourselves in situations like that, battling late against good teams, throughout the season,” McVay said. “We’re not frazzled or surprised and know how to handle ourselves.”

Walnut Grove made six of eight free throw attempts in the final minute to seal the win. The Lady Tigers were 12-for-15 at the free throw line overall.

Community missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer with 10 seconds left.

The Lady Trojans (28-2 overall) had won 26 straight games before Thursday’s loss.

“I’m proud of my team,” Curtis said. “They played their hearts out. Unfortunately, at the end of 32 minutes, someone wins.”

Walnut Grove 52, Community 47
Walnut Grove 8 12 17 15 — 52
Community 9 12 14 12 — 47

Walnut Grove (27-5 overall) – Faith Gilkey 19, Makayla McVay 17, Lauren Johnson 7, Jaedyn Johnson 5, Sadye Crump 4
Community (28-2 overall) – Dalaney Bowers 15, Sadie Hoyt 9, Alexis Welch 8, Natalie Thomas 7, Sarah Angel 3, Deann Brooks 3, Brianna Beamer 2

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