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By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Water sprayed in the postgame locker room.
Tears were mostly held back.
For the Hartville Eagles, if the ride has to end, there was no better way to go out.
Hartville capped one of the best seasons in state history with a grueling 43-35 victory over Monroe City in Saturday night’s Class 3 Show-Me Showdown championship at JQH Arena.
Seniors Ryce Piper (13) and Cody Mahan (12) combined for 25 points for the Eagles.
It was the perfect ending for a Hartville nucleus that’s played together since they were toddlers and formed into an unbreakable basketball machine over the years.
“Honestly, it’s kind of sad that it’s over now,” said Hartville senior Ryce Piper. “But we couldn’t have gone out a better way, honestly, with an undefeated state championship.”
Hartville took on all challengers this season, knocking off local powers like Greenwood, Kickapoo, Nixa and even an out-of-state power in Viola (Ark.).
Saturday’s victory also extended Hartville’s winning streak to 42 games, which ranks No. 7 in state history. The Eagles surpassed the Branson Pirates, who won 41 straight from 1954-55.
“It’s something you never think could happen. But, we’ve done it. It’s real now. We’re going to live it up at home,” Mahan said.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
It’s one thing to play the schedule that Hartville did. But going undefeated?
“I never would’ve thought throughout that entire schedule that we would end up unblemished,” said Eagles coach Brett Reed. “It’s credit to these kids. They rise to the occasion.”
Those past games paid off Saturday night, when Hartville held just a two-point lead over Monroe City with two minutes remaining in regulation.
Hartville buckled down, scoring the game’s final six points. Braden Branstetter, who battled foul trouble for much of the game, had a pair of layups to help Hartville seal it.
“When I put that schedule together, I was thinking it could prepare us for moments like tonight,” Reed said. “If we play the toughest teams around, then when it comes down to the final minutes of the state championship and things get tough, we can handle that.”
It’s the second straight state championship for the school from Wright County (enrollment: 182).
“We try to do things that have never been done before,” Piper said. “This year, we came into the season and said, ‘We shouldn’t lose a game.’ We got that done.
“I don’t think it’s (sunk in) yet. It might tomorrow morning when I get out of bed and realize, ‘Oh yeah, we won.’ We’re going to celebrate and enjoy it with our fans.”
Reed admitted he had mixed feelings on going back-to-back with this group.
“(State championships) are all special, but I think it’s just the journey to get here and being… perfect,” Reed said. “I just never would have dreamed, in my wildest dreams, I’d ever get to be a part of something this special.
“I’ve also regretted this day for a long time. This group of seniors has been such a big part of my life. Now, they’re going to go out and make a life for themselves now. I’m going to miss them. They’ve done so much for our program.”
Monroe City didn’t make it easy. The Panthers trailed only 16-11 at halftime.
Hartville briefly led by nine early in the fourth quarter, but Monroe City responded with a 9-2 run to make it 37-35 with two minutes left.
Logan Buhlig led Monroe City with nine points. The Panthers limited Hartville to only 26 shot attempts (15-for-26) on the night.
“Monroe City reminds me so much of us,” Reed said. “They run the same type of offensive schemes, they guard exactly the same way. I was so impressed with their kids’ effort and defense.”
Saturday also marked the ending of what Reed described as a “roller coaster week.”
Last Friday, the Eagles beat budding rival Greenwood in the state quarterfinals. The next day, Reed’s second child (another girl) was born.
“I’ve been fighting off tears since the buzzer sounded,” Reed said. “I’ve done everything I can to not cry in front of these guys. It’s an emotional experience.
“I can’t tell you how much it means to me and how much I’ll miss (our seniors).”
Hartville 43, Monroe City 35
Monroe City 5 6 15 9 — 35
Hartville 6 10 16 11 — 43
Monroe City (27-3 overall) – Logan Buhlig 9, Kyle Hays 8, Jaedyn Robertson 6, Josh Talton 5, Josiah Talton 3, Reece Buhlig 2, Deion White 2
Hartville (30-1 overall ) – Ryce Piper 13, Cody Mahan 12, Braden Branstetter 9, Eli Cook 6, Dalton O’dell 2, Brady Ward 1
