By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
When the game isn’t going their way, the Kickapoo Lady Chiefs rise to the challenge.
As Kickapoo sat in the locker room after a mistake-filled first half against Blue Springs South, Lady Chiefs coach Jim Pendergrass told his team a simple message.
“We’re going to win this game,’” he said, adding: “This group is really determined. They have a lot of will and fight.”
Kickapoo erupted in the third quarter to defeat Blue Springs South 51-36 on Thursday afternoon at JQH Arena in the Class 6 girls’ Show-Me Showdown semifinals.
The Lady Chiefs turned an 18-all halftime tie into a comfortable lead by outscoring the Jaguars 24-8 in the decisive third quarter.
Kickapoo did it with rebounding and defense.
The Lady Chiefs outrebounded Blue Springs 41-23 overall. They limited the Jaguars to just 14-for-51 shooting from the field, including 5-for-25 on 3-point attempts.
“Really proud of our team today and their effort,” Pendergrass said. “They did a fantastic job with our gameplan on what we needed to do versus a very good team in Blue Springs South.”
Kickapoo takes on nationally ranked Incarnate Word Academy at 2 p.m. Friday at JQH Arena in the Class 6 state championship game.
The Red Knights have won 67 straight games and are looking for their fifth consecutive state championship. They have won 11 state championships overall. IWA beat Kickapoo 62-42 on Dec. 10 in the Stephanie Phillips Classic.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
“They’re a fantastic opponent,” Pendergrass said. “This is what a state championship game should be: Two fantastic teams going at it.”
Kickapoo will be seeking its first state championship since 2016 and seventh overall.
The Lady Chiefs finished runner-up in 2018 and third last year.
“It feels great to win today, but we’re not done yet,” said Kickapoo guard Bella Fontleroy. “There’s still a lot of work to do tomorrow: 32 minutes. We just have to refocus and make sure before we go to bed tonight that we’re re-centered and ready to get after it tomorrow.”
Kickapoo, which committed 10 turnovers in the first half against Blue Springs South, scored 13 unanswered points during its third-quarter surge and never looked back.
The Lady Chiefs shot 56 percent from the field in the second half and committed only four turnovers.
Blue Springs South had no answers for Fontleroy, who led all players with 24 points and 13 rebounds.
“For sure, she’s the hardest matchup we’ve faced,” said Blue Springs South coach Kory Lower. “If she’s not the best player overall, she’s certainly up there. The thing that makes her tough is that she can post, she can drive and she can shoot. If you don’t have the right personnel to matchup with her, it makes it really difficult to play (Kickapoo) man-to-man.”
Thursday’s victory gives the Lady Chiefs some redemption after last year’s heartbreak. Kickapoo gave up a fourth-quarter lead and lost to Webster Groves in the semifinals.
In the final practice leading up to that game, Kickapoo point guard Kaya Goldsby broke her foot. She still played against Webster Groves and finished with 13 points.
“It feels great to come back and get this win because we deserved it,” Goldsby said. “We’ve worked hard for this.”
Kickapoo sophomore guard Kya Johnson added 14 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Blue Springs South.
The Lady Chiefs (28-3 overall, ranked No. 3 in Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Class 6 state poll) have won 14 straight games.
Jaidynn Mason led Blue Springs South, the No. 6-ranked team in Class 6, with 18 points. Blue Springs South is making its first state final four appearance in program history.
The Jaguars play St. Joseph’s Academy at 10 a.m. Friday at Hammons Student Center in the Class 6 3rd place game.
Kickapoo 51, Blue Springs South 36
Kickapoo 7 11 24 9 — 51
Blue Springs South 7 11 8 10 — 36
Kickapoo (28-3 overall) – Bella Fontleroy 24, Kya Johnson 14, Kaya Goldsby 7, Miya Nieto 3, Delainey Wiley 2, Brooke Turner 1
Blue Springs South (25-5 overall) – Jaidynn Mason 18, Tiyani Rollins 8, Saneea Bevley 5, Kendall Puryear 3, Alexis Alexander 2
