Lady Wildcats knock off Drexel to take district crown

Pictured above, the Class 1 District 6 champion Bronaugh Lady Wildcats, pictured front row from left: Mandy Murphy and Taylor Stratford. Middle row: Kaleigh Byram, Becca Raper, Bonnie Moore, and Mattie Earnest. Back row: Head coach Daryl Dodson, Braxton Rocco, Annabelle Morris, Katey Rider, Riley Knapp, Paige Wait, Kailey Harrell, and team-manager Kasen Pitts. (Submitted photo)

REXEL, Mo. ---- The Bronaugh Lady Wildcats claimed the Class 1 District 6 crown Friday night with a 42-38 victory over the Drexel Lady Bobcats.

In the team's previous meeting in mid-December, Bronaugh (22-5) came away with a 45-42 non-conference home victory.

Playing on its home court this time around, Drexel jumped out to a 12-7 first quarter lead. Bronaugh bounced back in the second, outscoring Drexel 15-8 to grab a 22-20 halftime advantage.

The Lady Bobcats clawed back in the third quarter, holding a slim 31-30 lead as the tournament's top seeds entered the fourth quarter. Bronaugh locked down defensively in the final frame, outscoring Drexel 12-7 for the final four-point margin.

Lady Wildcats senior forward Katey Rider finished with a game-high 13 points to go along with eight rebounds.

Sophomore Mattie Earnest provided a spark, with eight points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field, while forward Riley Knapp and point guard Taylor Stratford pitched in six points apiece for Bronaugh.

Maddy Jones recorded a team-high 11 points for Drexel.

"I think that this team has exceeded the potential we thought we had," Stratford said. "We have accomplished our biggest goal, so now we have nothing to lose."

Bronaugh held Drexel to 26 percent from the field (14-of-53), while edging the Lady Bobcats on the glass 27-26. In addition, Bronaugh was able to overcome 20 turnovers and 50 percent from the charity stripe en route to the victory.

Up next

As voted on by coaches, the Class 1 District 6 All-District team, front row from left: Meckinize McCartney, Sheldon, Fr., Taylor Stratford, Bronaugh, Sr., and Maddie Jones, Drexel, Jr. Back row: Leah Plunkett, Montrose, Jr., Jenna Eastwood, Drexel, Sr., Camryn East, Ballard, Jr., Katey Rider, Bronaugh, Sr., Abby Vogel, Montrose, Fr., Makinsey Conner, Northeast Vernon County, So., and Hannah Gorda, Hume, So. See a future edition for the Class 1 District 6 boys' All-District team. (Submitted photo)

Led by seniors Rider and Stratford, who have played together dating back to their junior high days with the Joplin Skywalkers summer travel team ---- the Lady Wildcats open play in the Missouri Class 1 State Tournament tonight against Walnut Grove (25-4).

Tip off is slated for 7:45 p.m. at Webb City High School.