The fourth-seeded Columbia Hickman High School girls’ basketball team successfully completed its upset run in the 34th annual Rolla Lady Bulldog Invitational by claiming the tourney championship Saturday night.
The Hickman Kewpies upended third-seeded Waynesville 37-35 in the title game Saturday at the RHS gym.
Also Saturday, in the third-place game top-seeded Sullivan defeated second-seeded Rolla 50-41 and in the consolation finals fifth-seeded Newburg got past sixth-seeded Owensville 60-56.
Hickman had upset Sullivan in pool play Thursday night.
Championship
Hickman 37, Waynesville 35
The Waynesville Lady Tigers bolted back into contention of the low-scoring finals by reeling off eight unanswered points to end the third period. A layup by 5-10 senior April Dowell with :15 left in the third period capped the 8-0 run and allowed Waynesville to enter the fourth quarter tied 31-31.
Only 10 total points were scored in the final period. After the two teams exchanged baskets to open the quarter Hickman converted back-to-back layups, the latter by 5-9 sophomore Aqua Corpening with 4:21 remaining giving the Kewpies a 37-33 advantage.
Dowell canned a 17-foot jumper with 3:06 remaining to make it a two-point game. But neither team would score in the final three minutes.
Dowell had 11 points and 5-5 junior Lanicia Lawrence added 10 for Waynesville, now 5-5.
Chasity Prince, a 5-10 senior, fired in 19 points to lead Hickman, now 5-6.
3rd-Place
Sullivan 50, Rolla 41
The game was back-and-forth most of the way except for a run in the third period, during which the Sullivan Lady Eagles took as much as a 12-point lead. Rolla would trail the rest of the way.
The Lady Bulldogs, now 5-8, took a 11-9 edge after the first period. However, RHS managed just six points in the second quarter and Sullivan was able to go into halftime with a 23-17 advantage.
A fast start to the second half allowed the Lady Eagles, now 8-2 and ranked No. 3 in the Missouri Class 4 state poll, to take a 12-point lead. Rolla closed the period strong, cutting its deficit to 34-26 entering the final quarter.
Rolla continued to slice away at the Sullivan lead, and a three-point field goal by senior guard Amanda Rogers at the 3:05 mark brought the Lady Bulldogs back to within three points, 38-35.
However, Sullivan retained the advantage at the free throw line. In the final 2:42 the Lady Eagles hit 10-of-14 free throw attempts.
Rogers paced Rolla with 13 points -- including three 3-pointers.
The inside duo of 5-11 senior Hailee Parks and 6-1 sophomore Carissa Richardson each had 14 points for Sullivan.
“We came out and played really well in the first half,” said RHS head coach Bryce Swafford. “Sullivan came back and made adjustments in the second half. But we never backed down and were just one stop away from getting back into it (in the fourth quarter). Then they were able to make some free throws down the stretch.”
Rolla is scheduled to host another state-ranked opponent -- St. James -- Thursday at the RHS gym. The junior varsity game is to begin at 6 p.m. with the varsity contest to follow. It will be Black-Out Night for the Lady Bulldogs, with all RHS fans urged to wear black.
Consolation Finals
Newburg 60, Owensville 56
Three players scored in double figures as the Newburg Lady Wolves improved their overall record to 5-5.
The game was tied at 12 after the first period and Newburg clung to a 27-26 halftime edge. The Lady Wolves went into the fourth quarter up 42-36.
Hannah Yelton, a 5-6 freshman, netted 18 points while 5-9 senior Megan Richmond and 5-10 junior Brittany Wilson each had 12 points for Newburg.
Kati Davis, a 5-8 freshman, poured in 21 points to lead Owensville, 1-6.
All-Tournament Team
Hickman’s Prince was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Also named to the all-tournament team -- selected by the teams’ head coaches -- were Parks and senior Monica Pyrtle of Sullivan; Lawrence of Waynesville; Corpening of Hickman, and seniors Dani Steele and Tori Hagni of Rolla.
Rolla, Mo. —
