The task at hand was not going to be easy. Facing a Kickapoo team on a 12 game winning streak, winning their last seven by an average of 45 points and outscoring their opponents 160-30 in the last two games. The closest contest was a win in the finals of the Pittsburg tournament when they only defeated Blue Valley NW by nineteen. Ranked #5 in the most recent Class 6 poll, they featured an experienced starting lineup of three seniors and two juniors. On paper...why play? Well the Lady Cardinals showed why you play the game on the court and not on paper.
In the beginning, the Chiefs forced the Cardinals into an early timeout after jumping out to a quick 4-0 lead. A Whitlee Keith free throw and an Addie Burns bucket trimmed the lead back to one. The Chiefs took another four point lead, 9-5, before Abby Sargent scored two and Kenzie Horn completed an old fashioned three point play and the Chiefs found themselves behind 10-9 with just a minute left in the quarter. Five unanswered from Kickapoo and the first quarter ended with a Chief lead of only four points 14-10.
The Chiefs looked to put some distance between the clubs, pulling out to a six point lead on three separate occasions in the second quarter. But each time, the Lady Cardinals had an answer. Continuing to hang around, Webb City pulled to within one on an Addie Burns three pointer with just over a minute before half time. A couple of Chief free throws sent the teams to the locker room with the Cardinals only trailing 27-24.
The middle of the third quarter and into the fourth quarter, the Chiefs started to take command as they went on a 20-4 run that opened a 21 point bulge at 55-34 with only three minutes left to play. The Lady Cardinals then showed why they have wins on their side of the ledger also, holding the Chiefs scoreless the remainder of the game, scoring the final ten points themselves.
Kickapoo ultimately defeated Webb City 55-44.
Abby Sargent led the scoring with 19 points and grabbed a team best six rebounds. Addie Burns followed with 15 points.
Webb City will be at Republic on Thursday night in their COC West opener.