By Jordan Burton
In case there was ever any doubt… Rock Bridge is back.
The Lady Bruins – winners of four of the last five Class 5 state championships – made quick work of previously unbeaten Branson, 56-24, to advance to the White Division semifinals in the Pink and White Lady Classic Wednesday at the O’Reilly Family Event Center.
Rock Bridge has now won eight straight games since losing its season-opener to Class 5 No. 1 Kirkwood.
“We’re just fine being under the radar,” said Rock Bridge coach Nagel. “I know it’s cliche but we are really taking it one game at a time. We’ve got a great group of kids and they just enjoy being together and playing the game. They’re enjoying the journey and taking it one game at a time.”
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Despite playing without 6-foot senior Terra Utz-Depriest, Branson battled early, forging a 5-5 tie midway through the first quarter. However, that strong start was countered by a devastating 16-2 run to end the quarter.
Branson was never able to recover.
“Early on you’re feeling good about how the game wa going and then they go on that run and you’re playing catch up,” said Branson coach Kip . “You’re trying everything possible to get back in the game and meanwhile your kids are wearing down. They’re a good team.”
At the heart of the run was Mizzou signee Elle Brown. The versatile 5-foot-11 senior scored 11 of her game-high 19 points in the opening quarter. Including three back-breaking 3s.
Brown, along with juniors Payton McCallister and Katey Klucking, took turns on Branson standout Amanda Kearney, holding her to just two first-quarter points and a season-low 12 points for the game. Kearney was the only Lady Pirate to reach double figures.
“She can guard any position and play any position offensively and she’s just a great leader and great kid on and off the court for us,” said Nagel. “She’s been a wonderful addition to us.
“The idea tonight was to rotate Payton, Katey and Elle on Kearney so we could keep fresh legs on her. She’s a great player and she usually plays all 32 minutes so our goal was to keep someone fresh on her at all times.”
Branson also struggled to matchup with 6-foot-4 Duke signee Madison Treece without Utz-Depriest. Treece scored 12 points and along with 6-foot-5 senior Avery Schroeder controlled the paint.
“This is a big court and because of the ramped up emotions our kids were pretty gassed,” said Bough. “Their depth really got to us. Having her in there gives us another rebounder and another body. We had to replace a 6-footer with a 5-foot-5 guard and asked her to box it 6-foot-4 and 6-foot-5 posts.”
Branson will now square off with COC Large rival Nixa, who lost 53-28 to top-seeded North Little Rock, while Rock Bridge will play the Charging Wildcats for a spot in Friday’s championship game.
Rock Bridge and North Little Rock met in the championship game of the 2011 KTXR Lady Classic. NLR won 39-37 in what was the final game in that event before the Classic and Pink and White Tournament were combined in 2012.
