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Lebanon, MO – The Lady Yellow Jackets hosted one of the better early-season SWMO girls’ basketball matchups on Tuesday. Strafford – the reigning Class 3 state champs – came to town and put on a show for the fans.
Lebanon got out to a 6-0 lead to start the contest, but the Lady Indians stormed back to beat Lebanon 83-59 on the road, thanks in part to an incredible performance from their senior point guard.
Abby Oliver put up a career high 42 points on Tuesday, sinking 10 three-point field goals in the game.
She started out slow – as did the rest of the Lady Indians –but once the shots started falling, there was no stopping Strafford.
“At first I was air balling and missing,” said Oliver, “but once I got the first one, they just seemed to keep coming… Every time I got the ball, I just felt like if I was open then I was going to fire it up and I knew it was going to go in.”
“Abby was sick yesterday and had the flu,” said head coach Steve Frank. “I was a little worried when she started the game off. I think she missed her first three or four shots and everything was a little short, and I think once she kind of got back into it and got her energy going a little bit, things really started to flow at that point.”
Oliver banked in a buzzer-beater from beyond half court as the first quarter expired, sparking a second quarter where the Lady Indians outscored Lebanon 21-4. Oliver matched Lebanon’s first half total all by herself. She netted 20 points and led Strafford into the half with a 43-20 lead.
“She doesn’t have to score to be a huge factor for us,” Coach Frank said. “She’s going to score every game, but she’s so smart and recognizes that if people try to take something away, she finds who it needs to go to and puts it where it needs to be. She’s just a good quarterback for our ball team.”
With Oliver shouldering the scoring load, stand out sophomore Hayley Frank was able to contribute in other areas on the court. Frank finished with 19 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and timely blocked shots to stifle Lebanon’s offense.
The Lady Jackets were led by senior Kelsey Winfrey, who put in a team-high 25 points. Faith Alwardt was the next leading scorer for Lebanon with nine points.
“The last time we came here, they beat us two years ago,” said Coach Frank. “And I told our kids, this could be one of the top three games on our regular schedule that we have. To come here and get a win like this tonight at Lebanon, it means a lot to us.”
Tuesday’s game was the season-opener for both squads. Strafford will compete in the Ash Grove Tournament starting on Nov. 28 before traveling to face Clever on Dec. 8.
Lebanon will look to rebound in the Fair Grove Tournament next week on Nov. 29. Then they’ll prepare to face the Lady Liberators of Bolivar at home on Dec. 13.
Strafford – 22 – 21 – 22 – 18 – 83
Lebanon – 16 – 4 – 18 – 21 – 59
Strafford – Abby Oliver 42, Hayley Frank 19, Zoey Mullings 13, Kayley Frank 7, Logan Jones 2
Lebanon – Kelsey Winfrey 25, Faith Alwardt 9, Kamryn Mack 7, Jaiden Offutt 6, Gracie Calhoun 4, Maddie O’Connor 3, Mel Meyers 3, Alyssa Wright 2
