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By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
By Strafford’s standards, it was an ugly second quarter.
Shots weren’t falling. Passing and ball-handling was sloppy.
None of it mattered, because the Indians still led by double digits.
“My assistant coach hit me on the side during the quarter and said, ‘(Clever) isn’t scoring either,’” said Strafford coach Steve Frank. “Defensively, we do a good job. They didn’t really gain a lot of ground on us.”
Such is life for the program that has won 78 straight games.
The Indians overcame a sluggish second quarter and erupted after halftime, pulling away for their third straight district championship.
Twins Hayley and Kayley Frank combined for 45 points as Strafford beat Clever 76-34 in the Class 3 District 11 tournament finals Saturday afternoon at Strafford High School.
Defense was never an issue for the Indians. Clever committed turnovers on its first five possessions of the game and didn’t score its first points until 19 seconds remained in the opening quarter.
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“That’s how we’re able to play how we play,” Steve Frank said. “We get out and guard really hard. Our kids do a good job of taking other teams’ strengths away. They really key on it and take pride.”
Strafford, the two-time defending state champions in Class 3, faces Mt. Vernon in the state sectional round at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Willard High School.
Against a fatigued Clever squad, Strafford blew things open after halftime. The Indians’ transition game led to easy looks, both near the basket and around the perimeter.
“Our defense leads to our offense,” said Strafford senior Zoey Mullings, who had 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists. “If we don’t play good defense, then our offense isn’t going to be rolling. We have to be up, we have to be talking, get those steals and tie-balls. And then, our offense comes.”
The Indians outscored Clever 31-7 in the third quarter alone. Hayley Frank, who sat out the fourth quarter, added 14 rebounds, eight assists and five blocks.
Kayley Frank added seven rebounds and five assists.
For all the talented scorers on the roster, the Indians’ best attribute may be their unselfish passing.
“It’s so much fun. You get those really good passes, you’re like, ‘Yeah!’” Mullings said. “It’s so much fun. I love doing it.”
Clever coach Dan Jones said his girls had tired legs after playing about 18 hours earlier – a semifinals win against Fair Grove. The Blue Jays’ starters typically play the majority of the game.
“The girls were pretty fatigued,” Jones said. “The game plan we had – ball control – we just turned it over too many times and then we had to come out of the game plan.”
Clever finishes 22-7 overall. The Blue Jays had no seniors on this year’s roster. Jones said he’s eager to see a promising 8th grade class join the program next season.
