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By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Springfield, Mo. — A crucial four-minute stretch proved to be the difference-maker in Thursday’s Class 3 semifinal matchup between Licking and Lutheran North.
Lutheran North’s 13-0 run midway through the second half broke a tight game wide-open and propelled the Crusaders to a 56-48 victory.
Licking head coach Steve Rissler felt his team — after advancing to the final four for the first time in school history — went flat at the worst possible moment.
“We had a stretch were we weren’t attacking like we were supposed to,” Rissler said. “I think the stage got to us. We were just kind of running around, not knowing what’s going on. We weren’t aware of the time or the score. We didn’t have a sense of urgency there at the end.”
Licking also didn’t have an answer for Luthan North’s Madison Buford.
The 5-foot-9 senior poured in a game-high 29 points and kicked off the Crusaders’ second-half blitz with back-to-back 3-pointers.
Rissler felt keeping Buford from putting together big stretches was paramount.
“We knew what [Buford] was capable of,” Rissler said. “She just made two really big shots — I think she was contested on both — but I think that was the difference in the game. She just gave them some cushion.”
Buford spearheaded the run with 11-straight points of her own, including a pair of transition put-backs.
Lutheran North’s physicality underneath the boards was another significant factor in the outcome, as the Crusaders converted 13 offensive rebounds into 17 second-chance points.
Rissler knew his team would be challenged on the interior and was prepared to see a bevy of rebounding opportunities.
“The number one thing written on the board right now is rebounds,” Rissler said. “We knew that they shoot, miss and go get it. They didn’t make many threes on the year — it’s just hard to simulate their level of strength and physicality, and we didn’t do a good job of keeping them off the offensive glass.”
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Prior to the momentum shift, it was Licking controlling both tempo and score.
The Ladycats jumped out to an early lead thanks, in part, to 10 points off Lutheran North turnovers.
Licking held the lead for most of the half until a conventional 3-point play from Lutheran’s Neveah Howard tied the game at 20-20 with 3:50 remaining in the second quarter.
Lutheran North’s second-chance opportunities allowed it to keep the game within reach.
The Crusaders defensive effort on Licking guard Karlee Holland didn’t hurt, either.
Free throws accounted for 13 of Holland’s team-high 20 points.
The 5-foot-7 junior struggled to find her range, constantly shadowed by Lutheran North defenders Jordyn White and Raevyn Ferguson.
Minimizing Holland’s scoring opportunities was a key factor in Crusader head coach Chris Forrest’s game plan.
“We just scouted the heck out of [Holland],” Forrest said. “She still did some great things, and she made it real difficult for us. We threw everything we had at her and, sometimes, that’s all you can do. We take pride on defense — I believe that we’re the best defensive team in the state.”
Licking was also plagued by foul trouble, playing without forward Abby Moncrief for a majority of the game.
The 5-foot-10 junior fouled out in the fourth quarter at the 5:28 mark.
“Not having Moncrief just killed us,” Rissler said. “She fouled out with 16 minutes, and I think four of her fouls were reaches — so that just killed us. She’s really our only girl with any size.”
With Moncrief limited, Lutheran North attacked the interior early and often.
Buford did a majority of the damage with driving layups and put-backs.
Forrest praised his senior playmaker’s performance.
“Maddie’s invaluable when it comes to controlling tempo,” Forrest said. “She took that responsibility in the third quarter, and that’s what kind of led us to get that lead and keep it rest of the way.”
While the four-minute stretch may have determined the outcome of Thursday’s semifinal, Rissler believes it won’t have a similar effect on Friday’s third-place opportunity.
“Stuff like that happens,” Rissler said. “Your brain gets overloaded with stimulus from the crowd and the lights and the whole stage. I don’t think that’s going to happen tomorrow. I expect to go back home with the third-place trophy.”
Licking (26-5) moves on to Friday’s third-place game against Trenton (26-1), while Lutheran North (26-6) will play undefeated, three-time champion Strafford (32-0) in the title matchup.
Class 2 Semifinal: Lutheran North – 56, Licking – 48
Lutheran North 12 12 13 19 — 56
Licking 14 10 09 15 — 48
Lutheran North scoring: Madison Buford – 29, Kaylynn Hayden – 9, Raevyn Ferguson – 6, Nevaeh Howard – 6, Taleah Dilworth – 4, Jordyn White – 2
Licking scoring: Karlee Holland – 20, Lexi Hadix – 5, Kiley Ingram – 5, Abbie Moncrief – 4, Kylie Taylor – 4, Athena Hood – 4, Lainy Hadix – 4, Anna Sullins – 2
