[wpbvideo id=’306585′]
By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
An admirable rally wasn’t enough to overcome a sizeable deficit.
Skyline cut an 18-point, second-half deficit down to just three points in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s Class 2 Show-Me Showdown semifinal game against Neelyville.
Neelyville answered with a backbreaking three-point play and later prevailed 63-57, dethroning the defending Class 2 state champions.
“We’d get a bucket or might get a stop, but then they’d score a bucket right back,” said Skyline senior Kaylee DaMitz of the fourth-quarter comeback. “It felt like we were (always) chipping away.”
Neelyville junior guard Autumn Dodd had 19 points and teammate J’Kayla Fowler added 17 points and 13 rebounds. Neelyville faces Mid-Buchanan at 2:40 p.m. Friday at JQH Arena in the Class 2 title game.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Skyline plays Northeast (Cairo) at 11 a.m. at Hammons Student Center in the third-place game. Skyline also won third-place games in 2013 and 2016.
“There’s few kids that get a chance to win their final game,” said Skyline coach Kevin Cheek. “We’re going to give that a whirl and see how that goes.”
Savannah Owen had 12 points, four blocks and 13 rebounds for Skyline. DaMitz scored a game-high 28.
DaMitz’s jumper brought Skyline within 56-53 with 1:32 remaining. After a timeout, Neelyville broke past Skyline’s full-court press and found Fowler for a three-point play.
Skyline never got within one possession again.
“We got the job done,” said Neelyville coach Becky Hale. “We had an 18-point lead, I knew (Skyline) was going to make a run and they did, but we held on (to the lead).”
Skyline struggled on both ends through the first three quarters. Skyline shot 4-for-23 from the field in the first half and was out-rebounded 24-12.
Neelyville’s lead swelled to 18 late in the third quarter. Neelyville repeatedly turned Skyline’s missed perimeter shots into easy transition baskets.
“They got several run-out layups off long rebounds,” Cheek said. “They had a chance to score without having to run much offense. Somebody that good, when you’re giving up easy (shots), you’re putting yourself in a hole.”
Neelyville shot 22-56 from the field overall and out-rebounded Skyline 43-35. Skyline shot 17-for-56 from the field, including 2-for-16 on 3-point attempts.
“Not making shots probably hurt us more defensively, because the ones we missed were long rebounds and now we’re giving up easy one,” Cheek said. “If we can stop those, the game changes a little bit.”
Skyline ripped off 10 straight points to get within eight early in the fourth quarter.
Neelyville, which beat Thayer, Hartville and Oran to reach the final four, withstood repeated Skyline scoring spurts.
Skyline crept within seven points on four different occasions in the fourth quarter.
“It was a constant battle (back and forth),” said Skyline junior Autumn Garrett, who scored all 10 of her points in the second half. “We’d score two, they’d score three. We were getting (back) a little bit a time, but didn’t get quite there.”
Free throws (21-for-23) kept Skyline in the game. Skyline outscored Neelyville 24-15 in the fourth quarter.
“I was happy we played the fourth quarter the way we’re used to playing,” Cheek said.
Neelyville 63, Skyline 57
Neelyville 12 14 22 15 — 63
Skyline 10 7 16 24 — 57
Neelyville – Autumn Dodd 19, J’Kayla Fowler 17, Jentri Worley 11, Rhegan Tutor 6, Mackenzie Hobbs 5, Lexi Liau 5
Skyline – Kaylee DaMitz 28, Savannah Owen 12, Autumn Garrett 10, Sarah Cunningham 4, Valen Logan 2, Kristen Miller 1
