By Amanda Perkins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Ava Lady Bears topped the Willow Springs Lady Bears 45-40 in the Class 4, District 11 championship game Friday night to win their second straight title.
“That was a battle,” said Ava head coach Nathan Houk. “Willow has a really good team. They are well-coached, and they were well-prepared. I was really proud of how our girls played. They stepped up and answered the bell and had a solution for everything Willow Springs threw at us.”
Willow Springs hit shots early while Ava worked out defensive wrinkles, but Ava’s rebounding and success at the foul line contributed to their victory.
Willow’s Ashlyn Jones led all scorers with 16 points.
“We knew it would be a tough battle,” said Willow Springs head coach Shannon Crain. “They are big and long, and it was a physical battle underneath for the first half. We got beaten on the boards as far as the win/loss.”
Willow Springs’ Liz Sheehan was first on the board, then Sara Mendel answered underneath for Ava. Ashlyn Jones hit a layup and drew a foul for the and-one to lead 5-2. Mendel added two from the charity stripe, but a Jones steal and dish to Keena Lowe underneath moved Willow up 7-4. Chloe Chafin and Olivia Gastineau traded buckets, then a Jones shot from downtown brought Willow Springs to a 12-6 lead. Ava rebounding helped them to the final two shots in the frame, Hannah Evans under the basket and Lexie Gastineau for 3, and Ava trailed by one, 12-11.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Mendel connected in the top of the second to take the lead, 13-12, but Chafin contributed two from the foul line to regain the lead for Willow Springs. Mendel added two of her own from the charity stripe, then Gastineau hit a deep three. Mendel’s shot underneath gave Ava a four-point lead heading into the half, 20-16.
Willow Springs tied the game early in the third, 22-22. After a Hannah Evans bucket for Ava, Anna Minge hit a big three, Lowe added two underneath, and Jones added two free throws for Willow. But Ava proceeded to outscore Willow Springs 10-6, including threes from Lexie Gastineau and Hannah Evans, and closed the third leading 32-28.
Late in the fourth, Sheehan had a steal and a layup to cut Ava’s lead to three. Olivia and Lexie Gastineau widened the gap from the foul line, but Ashlyn Jones drained a three to again move within three points, this time with a minute left to play.
Willow Springs couldn’t make their shots fall as the clock ran down, and Ava made 9 of their 13 points in the frame from the free throw line.
Houk said his three seniors have meant “everything” to his program.
“Baylan Alexander has been an off and on starter for us the last couple of years,” he said. “Hannah Evans has been a four-year starter and can do anything. She plays shooting guard, power forward. Sam Keyes came in and strengthened our team by giving us depth at the guard spot. I love all three of them to death.”
Additionally, 6’2” junior Sara Mendel is a force to be reckoned with. “Our post player Mendel does an outstanding job for us,” said Houk.
“Olivia Gastineau is our point guard and tougher than a two-dollar steak,” said Houk. “She’s a gamer. Her sister, Lexie Gastineau, hit some big shots for us tonight. Celia Fossett is our best defender and was on Ashlyn Jones, and gave her all she wanted. Then Keeley Akers, a junior, is an all-out hustler and rebounder and does a nice job for us.”
Coach Crain said his four senior leaders, all team captains, can’t be replaced. “Someone will step into that role, but you can’t replace them,” he added. “They’ve been playing together since about third grade, and it is very emotional in the locker room right now. I’m proud of them, they didn’t give up and played hard. We didn’t have an exceptionally great game, but we never gave in, and we could have a couple of times when they got up. We kept fighting back.”
“They are a great bunch of girls,” he said. “I’m glad God gave me the opportunity to coach them.”
Willow Springs ends their season 19-9.
Ava moves to 21-5 on the year and will take on the Seneca Lady Indians in the sectional round of the Class 4 State Tournament on Tuesday, March 8 at 6:00 pm in Nixa.
Scoring for Ava: Sara Mendel, 12; Olivia Gastineau, 11; Lexie Gastineau, 10; Hannah Evans, 9; Celia Fossett, 3.
Scoring for Willow Springs: Ashlyn Jones, 16; Keena Lowe, 8; Liz Sheehan, 8; Chloe Chafin, 4; Anna Minge, 4.
