By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Before a night of team karaoke, the Strafford Lady Indians put on a different kind of performance. This one featured hot shooting and unselfish passing, rather than questionable vocal skills.
Strafford shot 66 percent from the field, including 62 percent from 3-point range, as it hammered an undermanned Whitfield team 88-45 at home Saturday afternoon.
Strafford, the three-time defending champion in Class 3, extended its state-best winning streak to 88 games. Maddie Chittenden scored a game-high 21.
“Over our past few games, our shooting has been spotty,” Chittenden said. “We’ll have one player hitting (shots) but the rest of the team won’t be. It felt like today that everything clicked and we were all hitting.”
Strafford and Whitfield met in the Class 3 state semifinals last season, with Strafford prevailing 67-50 in front of an electric crowd at Hammons Student Center in Springfield.
But Saturday’s rematch lost some luster when Whitfield star Aijha Blackwell, a Mizzou commit, left Whitfield a few weeks ago.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Blackwell’s decision came down to tuition costs at the private school. Blackwell, a senior, reportedly could end up transferring to Class 3 schools Cardinal Ritter or Lutheran North and playing there.
Coincidentally, Strafford travels to St. Louis next week for games against Lutheran South (Dec. 20) and Lutheran North (Dec. 21).
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
“That semifinals game last year, the emotions and hype and everything, that was the championship game. No disrespect to (finals opponent) California,” said Strafford coach Steve Frank. “Coming into this season, all everyone talked about was this game. Taking Aijha out of the equation took a little wind out of the sails, but they (Whitfield) still have a good team.”
Chittenden’s third 3-pointer of the game put Strafford up 44-19 midway through the second quarter. Strafford (8-0 overall) led 53-25 at halftime and by 30 or more throughout the second half.
Jade Moore led Whitfield, which only had seven available players, with 13 points. The Warriors fell to 4-2 overall.
Chittenden was one of four Strafford players to reach double figures. She also had a team-high nine assists.
“As a team, we all try to find the open girl and make each other look better,” Chittenden said. “I think that’s why our team works so well. It’s not ‘all about me.’ It’s not, ‘Oh, I need these points today.’”
Hayley Frank scored 18 and, unofficially, grabbed 10 rebounds. Taylor Dormann scored 12 off the bench.
Chittenden and Logan Jones (17 points) both shot 7-for-9 from the field and a combined 6-for-8 on 3-point attempts.
“Logan can shoot the ball,” Steve Frank said. “And she gets in there and bangs. She’s always big on the boards for us and she does a good job of guarding.”
Chittenden said Strafford would enjoy the win with an annual tradition after Saturday games: team karaoke.
“We’re not good,” Chittenden said. “We just go for it. Whoever wants to (sing) goes for it.”
Strafford returns to action Monday night at home versus Rogersville.
Strafford 88, Whitfield 45
Whitfield 11 14 11 9 — 45
Strafford 24 29 23 12 — 88
Whitfield – Jade Moore 13, Zara Daniels 9, Tajah Foster-Walker 9, Kelsey Blakemore 8, Kaela Lewis 3, Grace Siems 3
Strafford – Maddie Chittenden 21, Hayley Frank 18, Logan Jones 17, Kayley Frank 15, Taylor Dorman 12, Kyndall Compton 3, Mica Chadwell 2
