LIBERAL, Mo. — The third-seeded Thomas Jefferson Cavaliers were outscored 30-14 in the first and third quarters, including 19-6 in the third, during a 57-41 loss against No. 2 seed and tournament host Liberal in the Class 1 District 6 semifinals on Thursday evening.
Thomas Jefferson and Liberal played even in the second and fourth quarters, with that third quarter proving to be the difference in what otherwise was a three-point game.
“Honestly, the third quarter, yeah, it was rough,” Thomas Jefferson coach Lindsey Showalter said. “They pressed the dog out of us, and they kept it up consistently throughout the whole game. Unfortunately, we just didn’t take care of the ball. Credit to them and props to them for continuing it and it worked. We didn’t do our job on that side of the floor.”
Thomas Jefferson fell behind 22-11 in the middle of the second quarter after the Bulldogs went on a 15-3 run over the final minute of the first and the first half of the second, erasing Thomas Jefferson’s 8-6 lead.
Liberal started the second half with the first night points and the Bulldogs extended their lead to 43-25 before Gabbi Hiebert’s basket made it a 43-27 score entering the fourth.
Hiebert scored a team-high 22 points to pace the Cavaliers with 10 of her points in the second and eight of her other points in the fourth.
Lannah Grigg finished with 12 points, and she had all eight of the Cavaliers’ points in the first.
Sarah Mueller added three points and Tannah Cassatt and Kiera Onyango each finished with two for the Cavaliers, who ended their season 14-11 overall.
“I’m very proud of the girls,” Showalter said. “This is the best season the Thomas Jefferson girls have had since 2004, the most wins since 2004, and first 10-win season since 2008. We were plagued with injuries all year, lost our starting point guard to a broken leg which she actually returned in our first district game against McAuley, and had a few other injuries.
“We’re all proud of the girls for their resiliency to finish the season strong at 14-11. Although we didn’t get the results that we wanted, it’s definitely the start of a tradition and a steppingstone leading into the following years.”
The Cavaliers’ 14 wins this season doubled last season’s win total and matched their four previous seasons combined.
Thomas Jefferson seniors Cassatt, Nico Carlson and Phoenix Wade closed out their high school careers.
“This is my first year coaching and the three seniors have just been incredible leaders for us,” Showalter said. “Nico, she has just improved so much, especially at the end of the season, doing what we need from her being that scrappy defensive player. She’s very durable, very smart, and she’s a big part of our success.
“Phoenix, she is definitely a good role player for us. She knows her role on this team, she’s very coachable, and she always does her job. Tannah, she’s our horse. She brings the fire, she brings the aggression, she’s always up for the challenge, and we’re definitely going to miss those three girls.”
Bailey Couch scored a game-high 24 points to spark the hosts Thursday, highlighted by a dominant third quarter during which she produced 16 of the Bulldogs’ 19 points.
Abby Barton added 11 points, Taylor Swarnes 10, Ellaina LaNear seven, and Laney Simpson five points for the Bulldogs, who improved to 17-11 on the season entering Saturday’s district title game against top-seeded and ninth-ranked in Class 1 Golden City (23-4).
