By Payton Hannah (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Skyline Lady Tigers cruised past the Marion C. Early Lady Panthers on Saturday, securing the Class 2 District 13 title with a commanding 69-30 victory.
The Lady Tigers entered the contest as the top seed with a record of 24-3 and as the defending Class 2 state champions. Marion C. Early, with a record of 17-11, came into the game riding a wave of momentum after defeating Weaubleau and second-seeded Osceola in the semifinal game.
The Lady Panthers got off to a fast start with a deep 3-pointer from freshman guard Kinley Reed on their opening possession. Skyline quickly responded with a basket of its own and applied relentless full-court pressure, forcing several steals and fast-break opportunities. The Lady Tigers surged to a 9-3 lead early in the quarter, highlighted by a slick no-look pass from Autumn Baldwin, setting up Jayln Barb for an easy layup. The Lady Panthers struggled offensively, with Reed scoring all six of their points. Meanwhile, Skyline’s defense fueled their momentum, giving them a 21-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.
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The Lady Panthers adjusted their offensive approach in the second quarter, finding success with well-executed plays and sharp ball movement. Lilly Thompson and Miya Bess contributed with smooth jump shots and strong drives to the basket, helping their team change tempo and stay within striking distance. Skyline kept their offensive rhythm in the second quarter, with six different Lady Tigers contributing to the scoring. The Lady Tigers continued their solid play on both ends, building a 37-17 lead heading into halftime.
The Lady Panthers came out aggressive in the second half, led by sophomore guard Ireland Foster, who scored the first five points of the half. Her effort sparked a 7-0 run, cutting Skyline’s lead to just 11 points midway through the quarter. The Lady Panthers’ momentum was halted by an offensive flurry from Skyline senior guard, Ashlen Garrett, who scored 11 points in the third quarter. This sparked a 22-4 run in favor of the Lady Tigers, giving them a 59-28 lead heading into the fourth.
Skyline maintained their success in the fourth quarter, with several players contributing to the scoring. The Lady Panthers couldn’t mount a late rally, despite strong efforts from Foster and Addie Bess, who each scored eight points in the contest. With the game in hand, the Lady Tigers finished strong, led by Garrett with 17 points, while Kenzi Cheek and Shelby Redd each added 14, securing a 69-30 victory.
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“We have a veteran group, you know,” said Skyline head coach Kevin Cheek who notched his 650th career win on Saturday. “They’ve been to the Final Four twice, and they know what the goal is. I think for them, they just had to figure out how to keep a game-to-game mindset.”
The defending champion Lady Tigers are focused on staying in the moment as they chase another state title.
“We don’t really like to look at the past because we feel like if we do, then we lose sight of where we are now,” said senior Sadie Redd. “We like to look forward because we want another banner up there really bad.”
Skyline will host Archie on Tuesday, with tip-off set for 6 p.m., as the Lady Tigers continue their postseason run.
Skyline: 21-16-22-10—(69)
Marion C. Early: 6-11-11-2—(30)
Top Performers
Skyline: Ashlen Garrett 17, Kenzi Cheek 14, Shelby Redd 14
Marion C. Early: Ireland Foster 9, Addie Bess 8, Kinley Reed 6
