Semoball

LRCC NOTEBOOK: With flying colors, Twin Rivers does it right

The future is bright for Ozark Foothills Conference girls basketball with East Carter and Doniphan juniors Breanna Dohlemann, left, and Kenzie Redus playing through 2024.
DAR/Alan Dale

It’s impossible to leave behind the Lady Royals Christmas Classic without stating the obvious:

Twin Rivers High School is a class act.

The lengths and efforts the members of the athletic department went to put on another showcase event to highlight the excellence girls basketball can bring to our sports universe were as top-notch as it gets.

You have both girls and boys (kudos to Seth McBroom) head coaches getting behind the scene and making sure 16 teams were taken care of and able to move on to games and all the trimmings with little speed bumps – we can talk about the internet in Broseley at another date.

Then you have all these people at the scorer’s table who sat through a total of 26 games over four actual days of play and not all of it was exemplary — although, in truth, the tournament provided us plenty of thrills to go along with it.

And that chili? Have I mentioned that already? The hospitality room had quite the reputation as I made my way toward the first time being at this event, but really, as good as the food was, the work these people put in to make sure everyone was fed and done so very well, shows a respect for all their guests and self-respect for what the Royals athletic programs stand for.

Bravo and I hope we can do this for years to come.

The future took shape in front of us

As Doniphan edged out East Carter for the title in a game more gritty than pretty and understandably so due to tired legs and having gone through some harry moments over the previous days, many of us got to witness what could be an interesting dual for the next year onward.

Junior pivots Kenzie Redus (Doniphan) and Breanna Dohleman (East Carter) both showcased what were sneak previews of what’s to come from both of them.

Redus was a terminator in and around the rim and moves as gracefully as a post can up and down the floor. She has clearly improved in just a few weeks this season has offered fans and could be an interesting apple to a number of collegiate eyes.

Dohleman showed an ability to hit shots from the perimeter while also using her strength to put down chances at the tin and offered a defensive presence the Lady Redbirds are happy to have.

All basketball fans should feel the same way for the next 15 months watching those two.

1-v-1 of high caliber

I hoped for it and we got it: Seniors Brookyln Kearbey going head-to-head with Kenna Monaghan did everything in their power to lift East Carter and Doniphan with the Donette getting the final say with the winning free throws with .03 left.

It was a fantastic battle between the two best guards in the tournament and that’s saying a lot considering the guards overall ruled the action.

Monaghan is basically a walking sledgehammer. She is so tough and comes at you full speed. Her will to win is loud and proud and a pleasure to watch. Her competitive nature can easily advance a program’s will to battle.

Kearbey comes at opponents with the most advanced skill sets with the ball — passing or dribbling — and can score at all three levels. Oh and her desire to win? Kind of obvious in those last seconds, yes?

That was a matchup no one should forget.

Other notes

Parker Ernst? Neelyville’s freshman was the best young player in the tournament. It will be fun to see where she ends up …

Dexter’s Kate Nichols is really showing that scoring at will is a family trait. Only a sophomore? See Ernst’s description and say “ditto…”

Holcomb was an 11th seed who got people talking with an upset of Cape Central. The team of the tournament if for the only reason they found ways to make fans of other teams’ fans…

Word to Greenville who rallied from two double-digit deficits in the second half of back-to-back games to win one and lose its finale by only a hoop…

I’d write more, but the Bible has already been published.

Thanks to all of you.

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