By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Trista VanHorn is a fifth generation Strafford student who grew up admiring the Lady Indians’ basketball dynasty of the late 2010s.
“That Strafford team was my idol,” VanHorn said.
VanHorn and the current Lady Indians are on the cusp of achieving their own championship glory.
Strafford punched its ticket to the Class 4 final four on Friday night with a 66-54 victory over Nevada in a quarterfinals matchup at Nixa High School.
Sophomore Kinley Larsen delivered another big-game performance with 31 points, while VanHorn added 20 points to send Strafford back to state for the first time in four years.
The Lady Indians have adjusted on the fly since losing senior star Elsie Larsen to a knee injury in the district finals last week.
While lineups and rotations may have changed, team goals haven’t.
“The group’s focus has never changed,” said Strafford coach Dustin Larsen. “It’s stayed the same from when we started last summer. We’ve just continued to keep our eyes where our feet are and continue to get better each day.
“They want nothing more than to do this. They know it’s (Elsie’s) dream to get to the state championship game. We’ll just keep taking one more step at a time and do our best to get there.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Strafford (27-3 overall) will face Cardinal Ritter (15-11 overall) in the Class 4 semifinals at noon on Wednesday, March 18 at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.
The Lady Indians seem ready to compete for gold – and squash the narratives.
“Some people may think, ‘Oh, well they don’t have their best player,’” VanHorn said. “But we can still step up and we can still play. We’re going to show you what it’s like to be a team that can pull the weight.”
A resilient Nevada squad made Strafford earn its spot in the final four. The Lady Tigers overcame a double-digit deficit in the first half to tie the game, 34-all, by midway through the third quarter.
Strafford responded by letting Kinley Larsen go to work. She scored 22 of her 31 points in the second half to help Strafford pull away.
“Super proud of our kids. They’ve stayed the course. They’re resilient,” Coach Larsen said. “They continue to step up and make plays, and really stay close and play together.”
Said VanHorn: “I’m so proud of the team and so proud of how we came together and stepped up when Elsie was out. Today was a total team effort.”
VanHorn put an exclamation point on the finish with a corner 3 in the final minutes that sent the sizable Strafford student section into a frenzy.
“We were moving the ball – great play, great motion – and everybody was touching it. The ball had energy. I shot it and I was like, ‘That’s good,’” VanHorn said. “It went in and the crowd went crazy.”
Grace Anderson and Lucy Swearingen each scored 15 to lead Nevada, which was seeking its first final four berth since 1997. The Lady Tigers (22-5 overall) made nine 3-pointers on the night.
Strafford will prepare for its first final four appearance since going six times (and winning five state titles) during a seven-year stretch from 2016-22.
“It’s something a lot of people don’t get to experience, so you have to be grateful and appreciate the time when you get there,” Larsen said. “This team is a perfect example of a team that’s done the work and deserves to be there, because of how team-oriented and focused they are.”
VanHorn has looked at those championship banners in the Strafford gym a time or two.
“It’s a huge inspiration to our team,” VanHorn said. “We’re like, ‘That’s what we’re getting now. It’s our turn.’”
Strafford 66, Nevada 54
Strafford 14 16 18 18 — 66
Nevada 11 11 16 16 — 54
Strafford (27-3 overall) – Kinley Larsen 31, Trista VanHorn 20, Blair Bough 10, Lydia Goodin 4, Ayda Baker 1
Nevada (22-5 overall) – Grace Anderson 15, Lucy Swearingen 15, Anna Swarnes 11, Cora Braden 9, Alaina Hardin 4
