Lady Rebels collect third straight MAAA tournament title in defensive masterpiece

PROTECTED CONTENT

If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.

Username

Password

Login

Lost your password?

Username and Password Help

Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.

Email

Submit

← Back

By MATT KING

mking@dailyjournalonline.com

PARK HILLS – For the Central girls basketball team, one stifling defensive performance deserved another. And this one may have ultimately topped the last.

The Lady Rebels captured their third consecutive MAAA Tournament championship behind precise perimeter rotation and trapping in a half-court clinic on Saturday night.

They challenged nearly every Fredericktown shot attempt after falling behind by seven early on, and methodically pulled away for a 39-18 triumph at Mineral Area College.

Central yielded just two field goals and six total points to the Lady Cats over the final three quarters, including a shocking scoreless gap of nearly 12 minutes in between.

All-state senior guard Allysa O’Connor compiled 18 points with six assists, and her squad validated an awarded No. 1 seed after sharing the Large-School division title with Fredericktown and Potosi.

The Lady Rebels also surrendered just 18 points to Farmington in the semifinal round, and once again placed prime emphasis on eliminating the top opposing offensive threat.

Fredericktown star P.J. Reutzel endured a frustrating chapter within an otherwise dazzling season after missing all of her junior campaign to heal from knee surgery.

Except for eight points by fellow senior Calie Allgier, the Lady Cats could not generate ample balance as the combination of Morgan Populis and the O’Connor sisters kept Reutzel off the scoring column.

Brylie Allgier gave Fredericktown a 12-5 lead from long range to end the first quarter after Amelia Miller worked inside to earn the first four points of the game.

The Lady Rebels answered with a 15-0 shutout in the second quarter, and never relented as Reutzel was shadowed anytime she had the ball within 25 feet of the basket.

Allysa O’Connor muscled in a physical putback after Mia Monges saved possession near the baseline, then found an open crease to finish a right-handed layup through contact for a 14-12 lead.

Populis sparked the comeback with a 3-pointer on a kickout from Avery Boyer, and added free throws to send a 20-12 game to intermission.

Central (16-5) was forced to trust a younger lineup when senior guard and leading scorer Sydney Miles suffered a season-ending injury last month in Ste. Genevieve.

The three-sport standout gave the starting five a brief pep talk near the bench after returning from the break, and they responded by continuing a 21-0 scoring run into the third quarter.

Fredericktown, which allowed just 15 points to North County in the quarterfinal round, showed some defensive resolve of its own to stay within 26-17 entering the fourth.

But the Lady Rebels melted the clock with selective patience down the stretch. Allysa O’Connor added two more field goals before twice going to the line.

Taylor O’Connor provided 10 points and five rebounds along with her integral defensive work. Central split two previous meetings with the Lady Cats this season.

Miller and Reutzel each grabbed eight rebounds for Fredericktown (13-9), which carried its longest win streak since 2013 – eight games – into the title showdown.

Potosi 47, Farmington 42

PARK HILLS – Eden Robart produces a large majority of her scoring output as an inside force to compliment a perimeter threat from the Potosi guards.

The sophomore forward struck from the outside during a pivotal possession in the fourth quarter, and helped the Lady Trojans take another close battle from Farmington on Saturday.

Robart drained a 3-pointer with 1:51 left to create a three-possession lead, and totaled 10 points plus five steals in a 47-42 victory for third place in the MAAA Tournament.

Aniston Mapes shared game-high honors with 11 points against her former team, and senior classmate Aubree Wilson added nine for Potosi (17-4).

Farmington (12-11) erased a 10-point deficit to move ahead 37-36 when Ella Scott and Madison Mills attacked for consecutive layups late in the third quarter.

Robart answered after catching an initially bobbled lob pass between three defenders, then opened the fourth with another field goal from the paint.

Wilson extended a 41-39 edge by sinking a short jumper, and Robart connected from the left corner following a key defensive stop.

Sabra Brown provided six bench points, and restored a 26-20 halftime lead for the Lady Trojans. She added a putback off a reaching one-handed rebound in the third quarter.

Freshman forward Madison Clay netted 11 points for Farmington (12-11), including a stellar spin move and reverse layup during a 9-0 run in the second quarter.

Madison Mills added nine points, and dropped in two pull-up jumpers after Clay finished a stop-and-go drive to help the Knights complete their rally.

Potosi built a 19-9 advantage on layups by Presley Smith and Mapes, and forced six turnovers during the first quarter while committing none.

Trinidy Brawley sank her first of two 3-pointers, and Farmington pulled to within 19-18 after playing 6 ½ minutes of scoreless defense.

But an unfortunate collision occurred between Lila Roth and teammate Clay as both tried to track down an outlet pass. Roth immediately headed for the locker room, and watched the second half holding an ice pack to her face.

Chloe Rowe notched eight points for the Lady Trojans, who emerged from their temporary slump to score on three straight possessions before the break.

Kenzie Tucker chipped in six points and four steals for the Knights.

Arcadia Valley 54, Bismarck 32

PARK HILLS – Arcadia Valley had to make early corrections after Bismarck forward Ashley Hawkins beat its defense to the basket on a diagonal pass and subsequent drive down the lane.

The Large-School champion Lady Tigers responded with a 17-2 scoring run over the remainder of the first quarter, and prevailed 54-32 for fifth place in the MAAA Tournament.

Braelyn Turnbough scored 11 of her game-high 23 points in the third quarter after celebrating a career 1,000 milestone as a sophomore in the previous round.

Arcadia Valley (18-4) grabbed the lead to stay on consecutive 3-pointers by Paige Newstead-Adams and Annabelle Adams, who followed with a steal and dish to Turnbough for a 2-on-1 layup.

Newstead-Adams finished with eight points and five assists while Annabelle Adams totaled eight points with four steals. Callie Hinkle had six points and seven rebounds.

Bismarck (13-10) trailed 21-15 at halftime after starting the game on a 7-0 surge. A driving layup by Halie Dickey and entry pass from Kinsey Hubbs to Alyssa Brake made it 24-21.

Turnbough and the Lady Tigers dominated the rest of the way. She powered through heavycontact for a 3-point play, then drained a mid-range jumper and banked in an arching runner that Hawkins contested.

Adams beat the buzzer with her second triple for a 40-25 advantage. A basket inside by Hattie Vinyard began the fourth quarter and continued a 16-0 outburst.

Hawkins paced the Indians with 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Dickey added 12 points. The Lady Indians made just 8-of-17 free throws.

AV guard Lillie Adams had a key perimeter defensive role in limiting the remainder of the Bismarck roster to only three points.

West County 57, Valley 32

PARK HILLS – Senior forward Kaytlen Hartley scored 21 points, and West County rolled past Valley 57-32 in the MAAA Tournament girls consolation final on Saturday morning.

The Lady Bulldogs opened on a 14-0 run, including three baskets by Hartley, and later generated a 19-0 outburst. They forced 12 turnovers in the first half to lead 40-5 at intermission.

Sadie Patterson totaled 15 points with six rebounds, and posted consecutive 3-point plays with Maylee Merrill on fast breaks to begin the second quarter.

Alyssa Ludwig capped the previous stanza with a steal and layup plus a driving floater in the lane while totaling 11 points with six rebounds.

Merrill bolstered West County (12-9) with eight points, five assists and three steals. EmmaLynn Wilkins collected four steals off the bench.

Valley (4-17) reduced its deficit with improved shooting. Sophomore guard Ryleigh Maxwell knocked down three jumpers plus a putback in the fourth quarter.

Maxwell compiled 14 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Senior Alyssa Warren added 11 points after netting 47 against Kingston on Thursday.

Haylee Moore chipped in six points, and Kyndra Civey had three assists with five rebounds for the Lady Vikings.

Patterson had a steal and layup at 44-9 in the third quarter, and answered a low-post basket by Moore with a putback to make it 50-19.