LAMAR, Mo. — With their backs against the wall trailing by double digits with less than seven minutes left in regulation, the top-seeded McAuley Warriors used a staunch defensive effort to rally back for a 41-37 win over second-seeded Hume to win the Class 1 District 7 title on Friday at Lamar High School.
“The first half, it felt good because I thought we played very good defense to hold them to 13 points,” McAuley coach Mike Howard said. “Our offense wasn’t going very well, but again, when we play good defense, we stay in ball games. In the second half, (Hume) made some good adjustments and built that lead up.
“We had to make some adjustments in the fourth quarter and switched to a man (defense). We went full court to press them a little bit to try and pressure them because there is no tomorrow. I told them in the huddle, ‘You guys have to give me everything you’ve got right now. I need traps, I need turnovers and I need points in transition’ because we were not scoring in our halfcourt offense. That’s what they did. They have tremendous heart and I am so happy for them.”
The win over Hume marks the second straight district championship for the Warriors, who defeated Dadeville a year ago in the Class 1 District 5 title game.
“It is a testament to their hard work, their heart and not quitting when down facing adversity,” Howard said. “We have a pretty veteran team. Our upperclassmen have played in three district championships in a row now. They know what comes with this game. They know the challenges in this game, and they know it’s not going to be easy.”
Hume opened the fourth quarter with a 27-23 lead and scored the first six points to push the margin to 33-23 at the 6:40 mark.
McAuley whittled the score down to four, 37-33, following a Kennedy DeRuy offensive rebound and putback score with less than four minutes to play.
With the lead down to two possessions and time dwindling, the Warriors turned to the press-and-trap defense. McAuley forced the Hornets into turnovers more than seven times down the stretch, keeping them completely off the scoreboard in the process.
“I give a lot of credit to our crowd,” Howard said. “When we were able to get those turnovers, playing that hard on defense, the crowd really got into it. I think that gave them an extra jolt of energy. They were able to sustain that through the rest of the quarter.”
Lily Black knocked down a jumper from the elbow with 2:30 left to trim the lead to 37-35. Black came up with a steal on the other end, which turned into a transition layup for Kayleigh Teeter to tie the game at 37-37 with 2:10 to play.
After another Hume turnover, Teeter found herself at the charity stripe with a chance to give the Warriors the lead for the first time since the first half. Teeter converted both free throws to put McAuley on top 39-37 with 2:20 to play.
Teeter came up with a steal on defense, with Kloee Williamson knocking down one of her two shots at the stripe to make it a three-point game, 40-37, with 40 ticks left. Teeter added another free throw with 12.9 seconds on the clock to push the lead to two possessions, sealing the district win in the process.
“I think with experience, it’s just having heart and not wanting to give up,” Teeter said. “Not wanting this to be the last game I play with the seniors we have now. I just want to keep playing with them and keep fighting until the end.”
“They are a young team,” Teeter added about her team’s defense down the stretch. “They haven’t been in a district championship, I don’t think. Applying that pressure kind of got to them. They are an amazing team, but it really just worked out for us. Defensively, we just didn’t want to give up on this game until the buzzer hit.”
BOUNCE BACK AT THE STRIPE
After going 8-for-31 at the free-throw line in McAuley’s win over Rich Hill in the semifinals, the Warriors bounced back by converting 17-of-27 shots from the stripe against Hume. The Warriors made eight free throws as a team in the fourth quarter.
“That was a big emphasis in practice yesterday,” Howard said with a smile. “I am not kidding when I say we probably shot free throws for 40 minutes. And they had a disciple to where if they missed a free throw, they had to run a wall. So, they really had to focus because they didn’t like running. I think that carried over into (this game). Once one or two started falling, everyone started getting confident.”
SCORING LEADERS
Teeter entered the fourth quarter with six points. She doubled that effort alone in the fourth quarter after putting up 12 points down the stretch to finish with a team-high 18 points, fueling the comeback on offense for her team.
“That kid has more heart than a lot of people I’ve ever coached,” Howard said of Teeter’s play. “I looked at her and told her this is when I needed her to rise to the occasion. I said, ‘You’re our leader. We have to have you step up and make plays now.’ That is what she did. She played a tremendous fourth quarter, probably the best fourth quarter in her whole three years here.”
DeRuy also closed the game in double figures, scoring 10 points in the win. Black added seven points for the Warriors.
Brecklen Morrison led Hume with a game-high 22 points, 14 of which came in the second half.
ALL-DISTRICT TEAM
McAuley’s Teeter and DeRuy were named to the all-district team, while Thomas Jefferson’s Sydney Stamps was also a selection.
UP NEXT
McAuley will battle Montrose (12-6) in the sectional round of the Class 1 state tournament. The game will tip at 6 p.m. on March 3. The location is still to be determined.
C1 D7 Champions!!!
McAuley 41
Hume 37Showed tremendous heart to overcame a double digit lead late in the 3rd quarter! Couldn’t be more proud of my team! @JACS1885 @SoMo_Sports @warriorsports_ @J_GlobeSports @OzarksOzone @scoreboardguy @koamfox14sports @KODESports pic.twitter.com/pcXFOjjD9M
— Coach Howard (@McAuleyAD) February 27, 2021
