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BY JIM WIENERS

For three years, 2004-06 Incarnate Word Academy enjoyed going to Columbia, Mo., to play in the Missouri State Class Five Semifinals and Finals, winning their second state title in 2006 (their first in 1995).

Last year IWA saw their hopes of returning to Columbia denied in a Sectional loss to Midwest Women’s Athletic Association White Division Rival Nerinx Hall.
This year IWA is back and the 28-3 Red Knights begin their run for their third state title Friday, 4:30 against 29-0 Hickman Mills at Mizzou Arena, on the University of Missouri campus. The other semifinal game Friday pits another MWAA White Division team, 25-4 St. Joseph’s Academy, against 23-6 Columbia-Rock Bridge at 6:10.

Saturday the semifinal winners play in the title game at 6:30 while the losers play at 4:30 for third place.

“When miss (going to Columbia) we did not know how much we miss it until we got knocked out,” said IWA coach Dan Rolfes last Saturday at the University of Missouri-St. Louis’ Mark Twain Building after the Red Knights avenged last year‘s loss to Nerinx Hall with a 48-41 Class Five quarterfinal win. On Feb. 27 IWA won the sectional game, 57-47 over Normandy at UMSL, denying the Vikings a return trip to Columbia after taking fourth last year.

IWA began their road to state when the Red Knights won Class Five, District Three at Parkway Central. IWA won Feb. 20 over Pattonville, 80-21, and on Feb. 22 IWA defeated Parkway North, 59-39.

Meanwhile Hazelwood East’s hopes of going to Columbia for the third year in a row end last Saturday at UMSL as the 19-11 Spartans were eliminated by St. Joseph’s Academy, 47-40. East’s hopes lasted past the Sectional game at St. Louis Community College at Meramec Feb. 27 with a 75-54 win over Lindbergh. East won District Seven at Riverview Gardens by defeating McCluer, McCluer North and Hazelwood Central.
East coach Terry Creamer said last Saturday “they played pretty good (this season) considering all the problems (of injuries, illnesses and academic ineligibilities).”

McCLUER SOUTH-BERKELEY is heading to Columbia this Friday-Saturday in playing in their first state semifinal and final ever. Friday in Class Four Girls McCluer South-Berkeley (26-3) plays Bolivar (27-2) at 10:40 a.m. after St. Louis Notre Dame (21-7) plays Kansas City Notre Dame de Sion (21-8) at 9 a.m. Saturday the semifinal winners play for the title at 12:20 p.m. while the losers play for third place at 9 a.m.
McCluer South-Berkeley won their own district (Class Four, District Five) by defeating Rosati-Kain and Miller Career Academy, won the Sectional round over the Academy of the Visitation at Parkway West and denied St. Dominic a return trip to Columbia with a quarterfinal win in overtime at Hazelwood Central.

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