By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
COLUMBIA — It was Abi Schmitt’s long-awaited time to shine Friday.
Schmitt scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half and grabbed eight of her 11 rebounds in the second half to trigger El Dorado Springs’ comeback in the Lady Bulldogs’ 51-42 Class 3 semifinal victory versus Centralia.
“In the first half, we tried to go to (Schmitt) a little, and we talked at halftime that even though we were trying to go inside to her, we didn’t do a good job of finding her,” El Dorado Springs coach Beau Swopes said. “In the second half, she had a couple big offensive rebounds and putbacks and played an unbelievable game. She’s worked her tail off to get to that spot.”
“(Offense) started opening up,” Schmitt said. “It wasn’t just me. Everybody collectively decided to turn it up another notch and we overcame. Defensively, we picked it up and that helped our offense flow.”
Schmitt also contributed five blocked shots.
El Dorado Springs received pivotal production from Schmit as a backup senior post player who averages 5.0 points and 5.0 rebounds a game. She totaled four points in the Lady Bulldogs’ four games at state over the past two seasons.
“She’s accepted her role and battles her tail off,” Swopes said. “Abi doesn’t start for us, but we’ve got a ton of girls who would start for most teams. They give us starters’ effort.”
The start of the fourth quarter saw El Dorado Springs unleash a 17-0 run to turn a 32-26 deficit into a 43-32 lead. Centralia went scoreless over the first four minutes of the fourth quarter.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Tenlie Steward netted a pair of 3-point field goals in the 17-0 uprising. She made a 3 to put El Dorado Springs up 35-32, giving the Lady Bulldogs the lead for good.
El Dorado Springs poured in 26 points in the fourth quarter, after scoring just five in the third period.
“We went into halftime and said, ‘We haven’t played anywhere near what we’re capable of playing and we’re still in this game,” Swopes said. “In the fourth quarter, there was a change. Abi hit some big shots and turned the momentum for us. Everybody kind of fed off of that. All of sudden, all that momentum switched to us.
“Defensively we found another gear,” he added. “The girls did a fantastic job at both ends of the floor.”
The Lady Bulldogs’ late dramatics quieted a large Centralia crowd that nearly filled one side of the lower bowel at Mizzou Arena.
“Honestly, the louder the gym, the better we connect with each other,” Steward said. “The big environments don’t bug us. We live for these times.”
McKini Mays scored 10 of El Dorado’s first 19 points of the game. She was 4-of-6 shooting in the first half, while the rest of the Lady Bulldogs were 5-of-15.
Mays finished with 14 points. Neely Schaaf added 13 and three steals.
Centralia held a 26-21 halftime lead by scoring the final five points of the first half.
El Dorado Springs wasn’t able to take the lead even after holding Centralia (25-5) scoreless in the second half until the 2:26 mark of the third quarter.
“I never lose faith in these kids,” Swopes said. “I believe whole-heartedly they are one of the best teams in the state. They prove it to me every single time. It doesn’t matter how far we’re down, who we lose to an injury and who is sick. Somebody steps up and comes to play.”
El Dorado Springs (28-3) will play for a state championship for the third straight season.
“I feel like we’ve taken it for granted because we’ve been here three times,” forward Gracie Mead said. “We need to not lose sight of what a great opportunity this is.”
“We’ve been through a lot of adversity this season due to injuries and sickness,” Schmitt said. “To be here three times through all of that is a blessing. We’ve worked hard to be here.”
The El Dorado Springs-Fair Grove final will be a rematch of last year’s title tilt. This season, the Lady Bulldogs and Lady Eagles split two regular-season games.
“Round Three, we’ll have the rubber match,” Swopes said. “We’re excited to get there and compete again. We’re going to play our style, get after it and hopefully we’re ready to go.”
El Dorado Springs 52, Centralia 41
CENTRALIA (41) — Ross 3-9 2-2 8, Gordon 6-12 2-4 15, Anderson 1-4 0-0 3, Brunkhorst 1-9 4-4 6, Lewis 3-9 2-2 10, Walters 0-2 1-2 1, Carrico 0-2 0-0 0.
ELDO (52) — Collins 0-3 1-2 1, Steward 3-9 1-4 9, Mays 6-13 1-5 14, Mead 1-2 1-3 3, Schaaf 4-7 3-4 13, Schmitt 4-7 4-4 12.
Centralia 13 13 6 9 – 41
Eldo 12 9 5 26 – 52
3-point goals – Steward 2, Schaaf 2, Mays, Gordon, Anderson.
