By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Carl Junction senior Megan Scott shed some postgame tears.
Losing in the state title game certainly hurt. The reality of her high school basketball career ending was harder to accept.
“It’s been a crazy ride,” Scott said. “I love my teammates. I’m not crying because we lost, obviously I’m upset, but I’m crying because it’s over. I’m going to miss my team and I’m going to miss all the fun times we had on and off the court.”
Perennial state power Incarnate Word Academy pulled away from Carl Junction on its way to a 69-35 victory in the Class 4 girls’ championship game Saturday night at JQH Arena in Springfield.
IWA guards Nakayla Jackson-Morris (18 points) and Sonya Morris (17 points) matched Carl Junction’s total scoring output.
The outcome gives IWA its seventh state championship since the 2009-10 season and ninth overall.
The Red Knights also beat Carl Junction in the 2017 state semifinals on their way to the championship.
“When you finish, you hope it’s at least (against) the state champion – and it has been the last two years,” said Bulldogs coach Brad Shorter. “Incarnate Word’s an elite program – in the nation.”
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IWA led by 10 at halftime and slowly put the game away in the second half. The Red Knights outscored Carl Junction 18-9 in the third quarter and 21-6 in the fourth quarter.
“They just wore us out,” Shorter said.
Katie Scott led Carl Junction with 10 points and nine rebounds.
No Carl Junction basketball team had played in a state title game before Saturday night.
Katie Scott said the turning point for Carl Junction’s season came after a 37-36 loss to Springdale (Ark.) on Dec. 19.
“Our team rallied after that,” Katie Scott said. “You could tell that loss didn’t set us back, it pushed us forward.”
After shooting 57 percent in the first half against IWA, the Bulldogs made only six of 21 field goal attempts (29 percent) in the second half.
IWA shot 14-for-25 from the field in the first half and 15-for-22 in the second half.
The Red Knights went 8-for-15 from 3-point range.
“We hoped that maybe they’d miss a few shots,” Shorter said. “When you shoot eight of 15 from behind the arc? Gosh, that’s pretty good.”
The Red Knights scored 30 points off of 19 Bulldog turnovers.
“When teams are playing zone, you sometimes have a tendency to just shoot 3s,” said IWA coach Dan Rolfes. “We needed to get other baskets besides just (from) our offense.”
Taylor Hughes’ basket brought the Bulldogs within one early in the second quarter (14-13), but IWA answered with a 16-7 run. The Red Knights led 30-20 at halftime.
“At halftime, we were in a pretty good spot, but I wish we were down four or six,” Shorter said. “I think that could’ve made a little bit of difference.”
Carl Junction finishes 26-4 overall. The Bulldogs reached the state final four for the first time last season.
They were district runner-ups three years ago, and lost to Owensville in the state quarterfinals two years ago.
The Bulldogs graduate two seniors: Megan Scott and Kate Dreiling.
“I’m thankful God gave me this opportunity to play with these girls,” Dreiling said. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
IWA finishes 27-5 overall. Their lone in-state loss came Feb. 12 at Parkway North (76-63).
Incarnate Word Academy 69, Carl Junction 35
CJ 9 11 9 6 — 35
IWA 12 18 18 21 — 69
CJ – Katie Scott 10, Megan Scott 8, Shila Winder 6, Kate Dreiling 5, Taylor Hughes 2, Kenzee Shanks 2, Courtney Mertens 2 ov
IWA – Nakayla Jackson-Morris 18, Sonya Morris 17, Tyler Flowers 9, Rickie Woltman 8, Marisa Warren 7, Kate Rolfes 5, Sam Eaker 3, Ellie Vazzana 2
