Semoball

Puxico girls basketball repeats as district champions

Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018, Bernie, Mo. (Dexter Statesman/Kyle Smith) Puxico's Sophia Hancock attempts a shot among a trio of Campbell players during the first half of the Class 2 District 1 championship game at Bernie High School. Hancock scored a game-high 26 points in Puxico's 60-36 victory.

BERNIE, Mo. — The top-seeded Puxico Indians overcame a sluggish start Thursday night to beat second-seeded Campbell 60-36 to repeat as MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 champions.

The Indians (18-9) will face Oran in a sectional playoff at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Jackson. Top-seeded Oran (19-4) beat Chaffee 56-44 Thursday night to win the District 2 championship.

“I think we just got so antsy. Ours nerves get the best of us sometimes. We lost our head just a little bit,” Puxico coach Jordan Hill said, “but I was really hoping they’d come back out at halftime collected and just play disciplined, the way that they know how to play. I thought that they did a good job coming back after that.”

The Camels’ hustle kept them close despite a cold shooting night. Puxico had to work hard to take a 14-6 lead after one quarter and build a 29-14 advantage at halftime.

“I was very happy with the way we played in the first half,” Campbell coach Chelsea Bledsoe said. “That’s one thing I love about this group of girls. All season, regardless of the outcome, they go 110 percent. I think that’s something that every coach wants out of their players.”

The Indians’ career leading scorer, Faith Oliver, missed most of the first half because she drew two quick fouls and picked up a third at the start of the second quarter.

“That hurt. She’s one of our key players. Anytime she’s not in the game, it’s an adjustment for us," Hill said. “Luckily, she was able to come back in the second half, and I don’t think she picked up another foul. She played hard.”

Oliver finished with eight points, all coming after halftime.

Claire Parker scored all six of Campbell’s first-quarter points. She converted a turnover into two points and sank one of two free throws for a 3-0 lead.

The Indians rallied to take a 7-3 lead. Sophia Hancock made a floater, Carley Siler and Hancock scored on putbacks, and Katylynn Haynes, who finished with 13 points, made a free throw to give them a four-point lead.

Parker made three of four free throws to cut Campbell’s deficit to 7-6 with 3:49 to play, but the Indians closed the quarter with a 7-0 run.

Hancock, who scored a game-high 26 points, started the run with a putback, Haynes completed a fast break with a layup and Kaly Haynes nailed a 3-pointer to give the Indians a 14-6 lead.

Campbell (13-15) made only one field goal in the first quarter and 11 overall.

“That’s something you don’t need to happen on district championship night, not being able to put the ball in the hole,” Bledsoe said. “We’ve kind of struggled with that all year. We’re young and we’re piecing things together.

“We lost a starter in the conference tournament a couple of weeks ago. We lost our sixth man off the bench a couple of weeks ago to a fractured foot, so we’ve had to make some adjustments. So to get to this point, we’re so proud.”

The Indians stretched their lead to double figures in the second. Hancock scored consecutive baskets for an 18-7 lead.

Parker, who finished with a team-high 25 points, made two free throws, and Madison Burns made one of four foul shots to cut the Camels’ deficit to 18-10.

The Indians extended their lead to as many as 16 points before halftime. Hancock’s jumper gave them a 26-10 advantage, and Kambryn Collard’s 3-pointer made it 29-13.

Adrianna Pearson’s free throw set the halftime score at 29-14.

With Oliver in the lineup, the Indians outscored Campbell 20-6 in the third quarter to take command.

The Indians scored 13 straight points to push their lead to 46-18. Hancock scored seven points during the run, and Oliver and Katylynn Haynes each made 3-pointers.

The clock ran continuously for most of the fourth quarter because Puxico pushed its lead past 30.

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CAMPBELL (13-15) — Steward 0 1-2 1. Townsend 1 1-1 3. Parker 8(1) 8-12 25. Burns 0 2-6 2. Littrell 0. Pearson 2 1-2 5. Farmer 0. Hendrix 0. Totals 11(1) 13-23 36.

PUXICO (18-9) — Kat. Haynes 5(2) 1-2 13. Kal. Haynes 1(1) 0-1 3. Hancock 11 4-7 26. Siler 1 1-2 3. Collard 2(1) 2-2 7. Burch 0. Oliver 3(2) 0-0 8. Ukaj 0. Schindler 0. McMeans 0. Jones 0. Totals 23(6) 8-14 60.

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