SEDALIA, Mo. — The Carl Junction Bulldogs are heading back to the Final Four.
Carl Junction started fast and held on late for a hard-fought 55-51 victory over Lincoln College Prep on Saturday afternoon in a quarterfinal contest of the MSHSAA Class 5 state girls basketball tournament at State Fair Community College.
“I didn’t think we played particularly well throughout the entire game, but we got off to a great start and that proved to be the difference,” Carl Junction coach Brad Shorter told SoMo Sports. “It was a good game for us. Our kids had to be protective and strong with the ball because Lincoln Prep was extremely physical. Our kids withstood Lincoln Prep’s physical play and did a great job. That team was really good. So a tip of the hat to our kids. They played really well and did some nice things today.”
Riding a 24-game winning streak and now 29-1 on the season, Carl Junction will meet Cape Girardeau Notre Dame (23-5) in the Class 5 semifinals at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 17 at the Hammons Student Center on the campus of Missouri State University.
Carl Junction is headed to the Final Four for the fourth time in seven years.
The Bulldogs finished fourth in 2017 and were the runner-up in ’18. Of course, the Bulldogs advanced to the semifinals in 2020 before the tourney was canceled due to the pandemic. Carl Junction fell one win short of the semifinals last year.
“It feels great to be going back to the Final Four,” Shorter said. “Our kids still have a sour taste in their mouths from not getting to play in the Final Four in 2020 and then from getting knocked out last year by West Plains. We’ll continue to work hard and hopefully progress. Hopefully good things will happen for us next weekend.”
Also of note, 29 wins is a school record for the Carl Junction girls basketball program.
QUARTERFINAL RECAP
The Bulldogs got off to a great start, leading 10-1 after seven points on three field goals from senior guard Destiny Buerge and three free throws from junior forward Kylie Scott.
Dezi Williams, Hali Shorter and Scott all recorded baskets late in the first quarter, and the Bulldogs held a 21-8 lead.
Lincoln hit a 3-pointer late in the opening frame to pull within 10 at 21-11.
The 6-3 Scott picked up her third foul early in the second quarter and had to go to the bench for the rest of the half.
Lincoln College Prep started the second period on a 9-0 run to pull within one. The remainder of the first half was close, with Carl Junction taking a 29-26 advantage into the break.
After being down 10 at the end of the first quarter, the Blue Tigers outscored the Bulldogs 15-8 in the second period.
A back and forth third quarter ended with Carl Junction clinging to a 39-37 lead.
But the Bulldogs began the final frame on an 8-2 surge to pull away for good at 47-39.
Klohe Burk started the period by making 1-of-2 free throws before Buerge scored CJ’s next seven points. Buerge hit a trey in transition, scored on a strong drive through the lane and converted a hoop after a post-up in the paint.
“That was huge,” Shorter said. “Every possession counts. Getting our kids to understand that is something we as coaches are constantly working on. It’s a possession game throughout the game. When it’s late in the year and you’re really playing for something, every possession is important. It was huge to stretch out the lead just a little bit and it made it just a big tougher for them (Lincoln).”
Scott fouled out near the four-minute mark, but the Bulldogs never relinquished their lead in the final frame.
Carl Junction outscored Lincoln 16-14 in the fourth period to secure the season-saving win.
“They beat us in the second and third quarters and they almost got us in the fourth, so that quick start was good for us,” Coach Shorter said. “Obviously, Kylie getting in foul trouble didn’t help. You could really see the difference when she was off the floor because they were able to make their runs.”
Buerge scored 28 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead Carl Junction, while Scott scored nine points and had nine rebounds before fouling out.
A sophomore, Williams added eight points and 10 rebounds for the Bulldogs.
Also for the Bulldogs, Jadyn Howard had four points and Hali Shorter and Burk contributed three points apiece.
Senior guard Ramyiah Logan led the Blue Tigers with 29 points. Lincoln College Prep ends the season with a record of 17-10.
NOTES: Notre Dame defeated John Burroughs 46-35 in their quarterfinal.
The second semifinal will feature Lutheran St. Charles (25-5) vs. defending state champion West Plains (23-7).
The Class 5 title game is scheduled for 8 p.m. on March 18. The third-place game is slated for noon on March 18.
Class 5 quarterfinals
Cape Girardeau Notre Dame 46, John Burroughs 35
Carl Junction 55, Lincoln College Prep 51
Lutheran St. Charles 67, Whitfield 33
West Plains 58, Jefferson City 38
