The Lady Blackhawks have advanced to the quarterfinals of Missouri's Class 2 Championship Bracket for girls basketball. Adrian improved their season record to 28-1 with a 60-36 blowout victory over New Franklin.
The girls started out a bit tight and trailed 13-11 after the first period. The girls readjusted between periods and came back to the court with renewed determination and really put it on New Franklin and led 40-20 points at halftime. The third quarter was more of the same for the Blackhawks. The lead was stretched to 30 points bringing on the turbo clock to start the fourth quarter.
This team has been very fun to watch the past several years. The senior girls have achieved so much the last four years. Each year they've gotten better. As sophomores they advanced to the district championship game before losing to Jasper. Redemption came a year later when, as juniors, they overcame a large deficit to defeat the same Jasper Eagles to take home the district title. Their hearts were broken a week later by Skyline in a loss at sectionals.
This year Adrian cleared the sectional hurdle with this defeat of New Franklin. The team is has risen to the challenge this year and, with a win over Mid Buchanan in the quarterfinals, will play for a chance at the state title. Nothing is guaranteed so the girls must come out ready to play a full four quarters.
For those that don't know or haven't seen the girls play the starters include four seniors and a freshman. Bailey Reed, Lauren Shipley and Jenna Shipley have taken turns putting the team on their shoulders by scoring in bunches when needed most. Opponents will try to shut down one of the three but it is very difficult to stop all three. Anna Walley is an imposing physical presence down low. Anna forces opponents to alter their shots whenever they try to drive the lane but can also score at will when fed the ball down low. Senior Sheldon Tallman is a defensive wizard who can best be described as a panther stalking her prey. Numerous pictures of Sheldon on defense shows her fixation on the ball handler. Her pressure has forced many turnovers.
Adrian has also benefitted from solid play off the bench. Juniors Kerigan Wimsatt and Remi Pittman would be a starters on any other team and provides valuable experience while one of the starters catches a breather or is sitting out due to foul trouble. Sophomore Camryn Pruitt has been seen a pleasant improvement over the course of the season filling in for Anna Walley admirably.
Head Coach Shaun Bruto and assistant Megan Van Slyke should be complimented on being able to let the girls play their game while also keeping them focused and grounded. The girls should be given a big pat on the back for putting team ahead of personal glory. There is so much talent on this team...so many of these girls would be "the show" on many other teams. The girls know their role and play on their own strengths and have the good sense to pass the ball off to the player with the hot hand.
The town has embraced this team and impressive crowds have followed them the entire season. So much so the school is going to send a pep bus for students to ride to the game. If the girls pull of the win the crowd will most certainly follow them to the Finals.
The Final Four games will be played in Columbia at the Hearnes Center March 9th and the Championship on Saturday, March 11th.
Pictures from District Tournament
Pictures from Sectional game vs New Franklin
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