By Amanda Perkins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Liberal Lady Bulldogs fell to the Platte Valley Longhorns Wednesday night at Mizzou Arena in the 2024 MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown Class 1 semifinal, 55-25.
“We really made it tough on Liberal to get anything done,” said Platte Valley head coach Tyler Pedersen, citing his team’s defensive effort. “[Liberal has] some really nice players. I think we held Taylor Swarnes to one field goal and that’s pretty special, because she’s a legit scorer and she’s a player.”
Platte Valley opened the game with a 6-0 run while Liberal struggled to make shots fall. They would never relinquish their early lead.
“We just couldn’t get anything going,” said Liberal head coach Brandi Goodell. “A couple of our leading scorers didn’t get a lot to fall, and it was a struggle.”
Coach Goodell credited Platte Valley’s defense and inside play. “We are disappointed we didn’t have a better showing tonight because we are a better team than we showed, I feel like, but you’ve got to prove it on the floor, and we didn’t tonight.”
Bailey Couch put the Bulldogs on the board from the charity stripe, and Jordan Goodell connected for three. Another Couch free throw and a bucket from Ellaina LaNear rounded out Liberal’s scoring for the first quarter, but the Bulldogs trailed by 13. Swarnes got on the board with a layup in the second, but the Longhorns continued to stifle Liberal; the Bulldogs entered the locker room trailing 31-15.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Platte Valley dominated the paint and held Liberal to just four points in the third quarter, continuing to limit high scorers Taylor Swarnes and Abby Barton with their defense. Late in the fourth, Platte Valley went on a scoring run to secure the victory.
Following their district championship title, Liberal took down Macks Creek and Appleton City to claim a spot in the Final Four, their first appearance in school history.
“We were just excited to make it here,” said junior guard Jordan Goodell, adding that their goal was a district title and expanded as they continued to win. Coach Goodell said she is in her 20th year at the school, and this was also her first district championship.
Last year, Platte Valley took third place in Class 1, following back-to-back state championships in the previous years.
“Credit to [Platte Valley], they stepped up and made plays,” said Coach Goodell. “They have a little experience from being here, and that helps you settle in and make things happen.”
Four Bulldog seniors will end their historic run this week: Laney Simpson, Abby Barton, Bailey Couch, and Ellaina LaNear.
“These kids have been best friends their entire lives,” said Coach Goodell. “I feel like they would probably run through a wall for me, and I feel like they know I would run through fire for them. The love that we have together, it’s a special bond. It’s a special group.”
Liberal will play for third place Thursday vs. Delta at 2 pm at Mizzou Arena. The Bulldogs currently hold a 25-6 record.
Scoring for Liberal: Ellaina LaNear, 8; Jordan Goodell, 5; Bailey Couch, 5; Abby Barton, 3; Taylor Swarnes, 2; Laney Simpson, 2. Maggie Collins of Platte Valley led all scorers with 18.
