It couldn’t have been scripted any better than how it actually played out for Crane.
The Lady Pirates, 3-time defending Class 2 state champs, capped one of the most brilliant runs in MSHSAA history with one of the most dominant championship performances in state history, beating Neelyville 78-57 to win its fourth consecutive Class 2 state championship Saturday at Mizzou Arena.
“It almost felt like we were supposed to win,” said Crane coach Jeremy Mullins. “It may sink in on the bus ride home. I’m sure we’ll be hootin’ and hollarin’ but it’s a special feeling. I can’t put it into words. They’re going to write stories about them. It’s over, but it’s been one heck of a ride.”
Saturday got off to a bit of a slow start, with Neelyville grabbing a 6-3 lead before Crane responded with a 17-2 run to grab a 20-8 lead. After trailing for the first 2:17 the Lady Pirates never trailed again, shooting a blistering 52% from the field and went 8-for-14 3-point range for the game.
After leading 40-26 at the half, Crane threw its knockout punch in the first four minutes of the third quarter, grabbing a 55-28 lead behind a 15-2 run that included scoring on seven of its first nine possessions.
“I thought we played great. I wasn’t very pleased with the first half; they did some things defensively to throw us off and we rushed a little bit,” said Mullins. “But we talked about it at halftime, very calmly, and came out firing. When you shoot the ball that well and force 25 turnovers there aren’t a lot of teams that can hang with you.”
Crane converted those 25 turnovers into 35 points.
Five Lady Pirates, finished in double figures with Lexie Vaught’s 22 points leading the way. It was another dominant all-around game for the all-state Drury signee, who added 13 rebounds and 10 assists for her fourth triple-double of the season.
She averaged 20.5 PPG, 10.5 RPG and 8 APG in her two Final Four games this March.
With Crane owning wins over the Class 3 state champ (Strafford) and likely Class 5 state champ (Kickapoo), as well as 3A Arkansas state champion Valley Springs, Vaught has emerged as a strong contender to win the 2016 Miss Show-Me Basketball award given to the state’s top senior female player.
No Ozarks product has claimed the honor since Kickapoo’s Heather Ezell in 2005.
“She’s very deserving,” said Mullins. “She put up the numbers and this year is the first year these seniors have gotten to play full games and really got to show what they were capable of this year playing full games. Her stats are up there with the best and I think she made a strong case for that.”
Justeen Mahan scored 18 points and Kylee Moore added 16, while Shelby Roder and Madison Fulp scored 11 and 10 respectively.
Vaught shrugged off the idea of being the state's player of the year, deflecting credit to her teammates, which adds to the charm of Vaught and this Crane team; no “me’s”, just one “we”.
Fittingly, Vaught, Kylee Moore, Justeen Mahan, Shelby Roder and Emma Lander all exited the court for the final time the way they came in…
Together.
“That’s how we would want to end it,” said Vaught. “With everything, being together, playing together, and walking off the court together that’s how you’d dream it and the perfect way to end it.”
Reigning Class 2 Player of the Year Emma Lander, who has missed much of the season due to a torn ACL, was able to check in one final time in a Crane uniform, a sentimental gesture for these six seniors, as well as Coach Mullins.
“It was very emotional,” said Mullins. “I’m glad we had an opportunity where we could get her in and do that for her. She’s meant so much to the program just like all the other seniors. It was a special, special moment.”
Crane’s six seniors have played together for the better part of a decade with their high school run being one of the most decorated in the history of Missouri; four SWCL championships, four state titles and a ridiculous 123-7 record over the last four years.
The Lady Pirates never lost at home, went a perfect 50-0 in the months of February and March and no Class 2 team has won a state championship by at least 20 points since Pembroke Hill in 1999 and only four times has it happened in state history.
They join Rock Bridge, Marshfield, St. Joseph’s Academy, Northeast Nodaway and Marshfield as the only programs to win four straight titles.
The question now isn’t Crane’s standing in the history of the Ozarks, but is this the best four-year run in state history?
“They’re up there with some of the best teams in the state of Missouri ever,” said Mullins. “I was never afraid to put them on the floor against anybody because I knew what they were capable of. I’ve seen them in practice, I’ve been with them and I believe that if I told them to go run through a wall then they would try. They raised the bar; it’s going to be hard to live up to. They set a new standard, especially around our area.”
Crane 78, Neelyville 57
Neelyville 17-9-14-17 – 57
Crane 26-14-25-13 – 78
Neelyville (26-5) – Moon 27, Fowler 10, Worely 7, Petty 4, Stratton 3, Eaker 2, Oxley 2, Ja. Fowler 2.
Crane (32-1) – Vaught 22, Mahan 18, Moore 16, Roder 11, Fulp 10, Hicks 1.
