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By Matt Turer — @MattTurer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Springfield, MO. — It’s been four years since Skyline found itself in position for a Pink and White championship.
The Tigers beat Kentucky’s Bullitt East in that 2013 title game. Now the Tigers are back.
Kaylee DaMitz scored a game-high 31 points and was 19-of-20 from the free-throw line, Chloe Cole added 16 off the bench and the Tigers (11-0) walked away with a 58-43 win over Nixa (10-2) in Thursday’s semifinal round.
Bissett Michaelson recorded a double-double for Nixa with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
“We went into this one thinking, well, we’ll just play,” Skyline coach Kevin Cheek said. “We’re not going to do a whole lot different with who we’re playing. We’re just going to do our thing and hope it works out.”
It did.
Skyline jumped out to a 36-21 halftime lead behind 18 first-half points from DaMitz, who was nearly unstoppable in the first quarter but didn’t make a field goal (but did connect on 17 free throws) over the final three quarters.
“We let her get too comfortable and catch too easily and we weren’t executing what we’ve worked on,” Nixa coach Jennifer Perryman said. “She’s going to do what she wants unless you force her to do something else, so we made a couple adjustments, and we wanted her to give it up, and some other kids stepped up and hit big shots.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Cole connected on three 3s in the second quarter for Skyline and a fourth in the third. The focus on DaMitz allowed the senior open space on the perimeter.
“She draws so much attention, and Cole came off the bench and shot it really well,” Cheek said.
THE GAME SWUNG WHEN
DaMitz stepped onto the floor. The perennial all-state selection scored 14 in the first quarter alone, connecting from deep twice and tearing apart Nixa’s interior defense on drives.
Nixa silenced DaMitz a bit in the second quarter by holding her to just four free throws, but a trio of 3s by Cole meant that made little difference.
“[Kaylee’s] freshman year here (2013) she was just out there playing, and it looked a lot like yesterday and today did,” Cheek said. “We’ve talked a little bit about being more aggressive. She’s hard to guard.”
GONE COLD
Skyline managed just four points in the third quarter and Nixa pulled within 37-29 with 4:01 to go, but both teams combined for just one field goal apiece the rest of the third and the first two minutes of the fourth.
“When you return a lot of kids, we’re dealing with losing some focus,” Cheek said. “I don’t know that the third quarter today was loss of focus, other than Nixa just trying to make it work.”
Skyline began slowing it down and milking clock with nearly five minutes left in the game and a 42-32 lead.
The Tigers were 17-for-17 from the line in the fourth quarter. DaMitz connected on 13 of those with Cole hitting the other four.
Nixa closed the gap to eight for a second time at 42-34 with 4:35 to play but wouldn’t get closer.
“We knew we had what it took, but we were going to have to be really tough physically and mentally,” Perryman said. “There’s a lot of strengths for our team, but we were honest with ourselves and knew those were probably weaknesses. We have unbelievable heart and fight, and once we find that inner-toughness and match the physicality with a team like Skyline we’ll be able to play really well.”
CHAMPIONSHIP FRIDAY
Skyline faces the winner of 8-seed Republic and 5-seed Fair Grove in Friday’s White Bracket championship at 6 pm.
“Both are well-coached and both probably aren’t very good matchups for us, but if you look at what we put out there there’s probably not very many good matchups for us anywhere,” Cheek said of his team—one that’s 42-2 dating back to the start of last season.
A Fair Grove matchup would mean three of the four Pink and White championship contenders are Mid-Lakes programs.
Nixa will play in the third-place game at 3 pm.
“We’re treating it like a championship game,” Perryman said. “Some of the toughest games to play are those third-place games.”
FINAL
Nixa 10-11-10-12 — 43
Skyline 16-20-4-18 — 58
SCORING
Nixa: Bissett Michaelson 14, Emily Edwards 9, Paige Sportsman 5, Allison Brumley 5, Lakin Copeland 4, Gabby Nielsen 2, Halley Wiggins 2, Kenzie Hines 2
Skyline: Kaylee DaMitz 31, Chloe Cole 16, Autumn Garrett 5, Sarah Cunningham 2, Keelie Holmes 2
