Turns out, Strafford needed every bit of its 18-point halftime lead.
On the combination of a prolonged scoring drought and a suddenly rejuvenated Skyline, Strafford had its comfortable halftime lead whittled down to just two points in the fourth quarter.
But Strafford would awaken and bounce back down to post a 60-47 victory Thursday night in a matchup of state-ranked Mid-Lakes Conference schools. Strafford’s Abby Oliver (21) and Hayley Frank (18) combined for 39 points, overcoming a 24-point effort by Skyline’s Kaylee DaMitz.
“The first half, we did a great job defensively and with rebounding,” said Strafford coach Steve Frank. “We came out there at the beginning of the second half and I think we had four turnovers and gave up three offensive rebounds, which are the things you knew you couldn’t do to beat a team like that. That’s where (Skyline) got their run on us.”
Skyline (11-3 overall, MBCA/MoSports Class 2 No. 4) scored the first 10 points of the second half as Strafford went scoreless for nearly seven minutes. Strafford didn’t get on the board until Zoey Mullins’ 3-point play at the 1:38 mark pushed the Indians’ lead back to 41-30.
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Skyline went on another run, 8-0, at the start of the fourth quarter behind two 3-pointers from DaMitz to cut Strafford’s lead to 43-41.
“I’m glad we were up 18 at halftime and not 16,” Steve Frank laughed.
Skyline would get no closer, as Strafford responded with baskets from Oliver, Kayley Frank and two Hayley Frank free throws to push its lead to 51-43.
“Give Strafford credit, we cut it to two there in the fourth quarter and they fought through it,” said Skyline coach Kevin Cheek. “We expended a whole lot of energy getting it cut that close, but (Strafford) really did a lot better job tonight.”
Strafford, MBCA/MoSports No. 2-ranked in the Class 3 poll, improved to 11-2 overall. Its only losses have come to Class 5 No. 4-ranked Kickapoo and three-time defending Class 2 champion Crane.
“I told the kids, ‘I guess if we look at with a glass half-full, we showed a lot of resilience because with the two runs (Skyline) made we could’ve laid down and we didn’t,” Steve Frank said. “Part of that is our youth. Games like that are going to make us a better team.”
The first half was dominated by Strafford.
The Indians started the game hot, scoring 13 points in less than three minutes.
“It seemed like (Strafford scored) on their first seven or so possessions,” Cheek said. “I called a timeout and I was like, ‘I’m pretty sure we haven’t gotten a stop yet.’”
Skyline had to take out starters DaMitz and McKinsey Mountain – who each had two fouls – with 2:30 left in the first quarter and trailing 15-10. From there, Strafford closed the quarter on a 7-0 run and later led 38-20 by halftime.
“Those are two kids with experience, and experience in big games,” Cheek said. “When they went to the bench, that hurt us. But give Strafford credit. They attacked us in the right places and put us in position where we had to give up a basket or foul.”
Strafford plays at Conway on Monday, Jan. 11 and hosts Marionville on Thursday, Jan. 14. Skyline will host its own tournament next week.
Strafford 60, Skyline 47
Skyline 10 10 13 14 — 47
Strafford 22 16 5 17 — 60
Skyline – Kaylee DaMitz 24, McKinsey Mountain 13, Lauren Wouters 6, Matty Porter 4
Strafford – Abby Oliver 21, Hayley Frank 18, Zoey Mullins 7, Kayley Frank 7, Logan Eden 5, Kaylee Larimer 2
