By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The hunt for Carl Junction High School’s first state championship continues.
What would’ve been an unforgettable rally slipped through Carl Junction’s grasp in the final stages of Saturday night’s Class 5 girls’ Show-Me Showdown championship game.
Lutheran St. Charles scored the game’s final five points to escape with a 44-39 victory at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield.
Carl Junction (30-2 overall) entered this weekend with a clear mission: Win the school’s first state championship in any team sport.
“That’s what we wanted to do,” said coach Brad Shorter. “As tough as 2020 was, this one was probably tougher. To be right there, on the verge.
“But gosh, it’s a basketball game. I told the kids there at the end, ‘You showed a lot of toughness and grit and you’re going to be very successful in whatever you do.’”
Megan Aulbert, a 6’2” post and Tennessee Tech commit, led Lutheran St. Charles with 11 points. Sophomore sensation Jordan Speiser, who exploded for 29 points in Friday’s win over West Plains, finished with six points.
“Championships are not supposed to be easy. We certainly didn’t have our best game offensively, but we made the plays down the stretch – hustle plays and rebounds – to get the win,” said Lutheran St. Charles coach Erin Luttschwager.
The game seemed to be turning in Carl Junction’s favor when it mattered most.
The Lady Bulldogs trailed by six with 1:20 remaining. Lutheran St. Charles opened the door for a comeback, committing a turnover and missing the front end of two one-and-ones within a 20-second span.
Destiny Buerge’s basket with 39 seconds remaining tied the game, 39-all.
“We had that mindset the whole game that we can win,” said Carl Junction senior point guard Klohe Burk. “I’ll give it to the other team: They worked just as hard as we did and wanted it just as bad. We still put our heart into it.”
Lutheran St. Charles answered with a quick basket to retake the lead, 41-39. The Lady Bulldogs suffered a crushing blow moments later when Buerge, who averaged nearly 25 points per game this season, fouled out on a charging call.
“In a game that physical, that’s a tough one to swallow,” Shorter said. “The very next time down, you see an arm extend from them. That’s tough.
“You just hate to not have that last chance there when she’s coming down looking to score. I’ve seen her hit that shot a number of times coming down the floor in the middle.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Still, Carl Junction had one more chance thanks to a Lutheran St. Charles turnover on the ensuing possession. Carl Junction couldn’t take advantage.
With 10 seconds remaining, the Lady Bulldogs committed a turnover while trying to in-bound the ball on their own end. Lutheran St. Charles followed with two free throws to seal the win.
“It was (a play) we haven’t practiced,” Shorter said. “We have a couple of plays that we use for sideline looks, but Destiny not being on the floor changes a lot of what we do. That made it tough, but it never comes down to one play. It comes down to the entire game.”
The loss snapped Carl Junction’s 25-game winning streak.
For players like senior Hali Shorter, the tears afterwards weren’t just because of the final score.
“I can’t explain how amazing this team is and how much we love each other,” said Shorter, the daughter of the head coach. “We’re crying right now not just because we lost, but also because it’s over and we won’t get to see each other every day after school or on bus rides.”
Buerge scored a game-high 18 despite only playing 19 minutes due to foul trouble.
She enjoyed a healthier outing after playing sick in Friday’s semifinal win over Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau). Buerge received an IV and chiropractic treatment before Saturday’s title game.
“Coach Shorter’s brother, Chris, he kind of adjusted me and opened up my sinuses a little more so I could breathe better tonight,” Buerge said.
Carl Junction finishes with the most wins in school history. The Lady Bulldogs graduate four seniors, three of whom are starters.
“We played hard through the end. We gave ourselves a chance late and it just didn’t go our way,” said Coach Shorter. “You tip your cap to a team like that. They’re a good ballclub. I’m really proud of my girls. What happened today doesn’t define us. It’s just a little bump in the road.
“It stings right now, but what we have as a team is going to last forever.”
Lutheran St. Charles 44, Carl Junction 39
Lutheran St. Charles 4 9 15 16 — 44
Carl Junction 7 8 10 14 — 39
Lutheran St. Charles (27-5 overall) – Megan Aulbert 11, Kyril Franklin 10, Chloe Reed 9, Kennedy Stowers 8, Jordan Speiser 6
Carl Junction (30-2 overall) – Destiny Buerge 18, Kylie Scott 10, Deze Williams 6, Klohe Burk 5
