Potosi girls endure deflating start against reigning champs
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Potosi sophomore Brenley Thornton drives from the perimeter against St. Pius during the fourth quarter of the Class 4, District 2 girls basketball championship game on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Park Hills. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
By MATT KING
mking@dailyjournalonline.com
JACKSON, Mo. – A state sectional clash against the reigning Class 4 girls basketball state champions was daunting enough on the surface for Potosi.
A short, 48-hour turnaround from an intense district title triumph in overtime further challenged the physical and emotional endurance of the Lady Trojans.
Doniphan swarmed from the outset on Monday, forcing nine turnovers in a first-quarter shutout, and overpowered Potosi 57-37 at Bearcat Events Center.
All-state guard Carsyn Hagood had another fabulous outing with 27 points, showing off her perimeter and slashing skills whenever needed for the Donettes.
Ellie White also drained three 3-pointers while scoring 17 overall, and Doniphan (27-2) advanced to face St. Francis Borgia in the Class 4 quarterfinals on Friday.
The first state playoff appearance for Potosi (22-5) in nine years entered a cruel slump right away, marked by a frustrating series of rushed miscues and frequent fouls.
Three whistles against junior Presley Smith removed a crucial defender near the midway mark of the first quarter, and three fellow starters encountered similar danger by halftime.
Hagood earned three early trips to the line, including a driving 3-point play, and went back-to-back with White from long range to establish an eventual 19-0 cushion.
Chloe Rowe paced Potosi with nine points, and ended the unnerving drought with free throws after the Donettes yielded no points through the first 12:04 of game action.
A driving finish by White and triple from Hagood stretched the lead before Smith sank a 3-pointer and Rowe coaxed in a runner to draw within 30-10 at halftime.
The Lady Trojans continued a 10-0 run into the third quarter, as Eden Robart struck from long range and Brenley Thornton made a layup after a Smith steal.
Hagood restored her dominance from there with six straight points. She created a 2-on-1 layup with a steal after knocking down a spinning shot a few seconds earlier.
A 3-pointer before time expired gave Hagood 11 in the stanza, and made the spread 45-22. Both teams pulled their starters with about three minutes remaining.
Kenna Kirby chipped in eight points, and Doniphan converted 10-of-13 free throws compared to 7-of-9 by Potosi, which equaled its overall record from last winter.
Sabra Brown, whose offensive rebound and free throws lifted the Lady Trojans past St. Pius in the final seconds on Saturday, matched Robart with six points each.
Thornton secured two early steals, and had five points just like Sabyn Brown. Potosi is projected to return its entire current roster next season.
