By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Riding back-to-back final four appearances, the Blue Eye Lady Bulldogs know they’re going to receive every team’s best shot.
They welcome the challenge.
“Target’s been on our back,” said Blue Eye senior guard Kyla Warren. “Everyone’s coming for us. Everybody’s going to be prepared when they play us, so we have to be ready.”
Blue Eye was certainly ready on Saturday night in the Class 2 District 11 Tournament championship game.
The Lady Bulldogs dominated on both ends of the floor, defeating conference rival Crane 68-42 at Billings High School.
The outcome marks the fifth straight district championship for Blue Eye.
The Lady Bulldogs have also won 20 or more games for six straight seasons.
“It’s been great,” said Blue Eye coach Ken Elfrink. “To win five district titles in a row and do what we’ve done, it says a lot about the kids, the school and the community. Hopefully we can keep going on.”
Blue Eye overwhelmed Crane from the start, leading 20-7 after the first quarter and 35-16 by halftime.
Lady Bulldogs senior guard Riley Arnold led the surge, finishing with 27 points. She accounted for five of Blue Eye’s nine 3-pointers on the night.
Three other Lady Bulldogs – Kyla Warren (15), Avery Arnold (13) and Gracyn Fairchild 10) – reached double figures as well.
“Us coaches laugh about it all the time: ‘Hey, just make shots. It makes everything easier.’ But it’s true,” Elfrink said. “When the ball goes in the hole, it makes everything a lot easier. We’re capable of making shots and getting hot.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Blue Eye’s victory sets up a Class 2 sectional showdown next week.
The Lady Bulldogs (24-5 overall; ranked No. 4 in Class 2) face Miller (23-3 overall; ranked No. 3 in Class 2) at 6 p.m. March 2 at Carthage High School.
Nearly two months ago, Blue Eye edged Miller 31-27 at home in a regular season meeting.
“Defensively, they’re outstanding. They get after it,” Elfrink said of Miller. “It should be a good game. We’re excited for it.”
At stake for Blue Eye: Keeping alive its quest for a third straight final four appearance and an unprecedented finish.
Blue Eye has never won a state championship (boys or girls) in basketball.
“It’s really cool that there are 16 teams left in Class 2, and we’re one of them,” said Makayla Johnson, one of five seniors in the starting lineup for Blue Eye. “I’ve never realized how big that is until this year.”
Senior Danielle Cutbirth led Crane with 13 points.
The Lady Pirates finish 17-8 overall. They entered Saturday’s contest with a nine-game winning streak.
Blue Eye 68, Crane 42
Crane 7 9 12 14 — 42
Blue Eye 20 15 17 16 — 68
Blue Eye (24-5 overall) – Riley Arnold 27, Kyla Warren 15, Avery Arnold 13, Gracyn Fairchild 10, Makayla Johnson 3
Crane (17-8 overall) – Danielle Cutbirth 13, Lily Woodward 10, Gracie Brawley 8, Sayd Vaught 5, Gracie Rich 5, Morgan Cleveland 1
