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IWAs Record-Tying Seventh Hoops Title, A 3-Peat, Is 27th In All Sports
By Jim Wieners
Incarnate Word Academy is joining elite company in Girls Basketball in winning their third stright state title, their seventh title since 1995, their sixth in the last 10 years (since 2006) and their fifth in the last six years.
Incarnate is only the sixth high school in Missouri State High School Activities Association to win three straight state titles and is shares the record of most state girls titles, which is seven, with Marshfield and Scott County Central. During the last six years IWA fell short of winning in 2012 as the Red Knights fell in the Class Five Semifinals to Columbia-Rock Bridge, who eventually won that year and three years after inlcluding this year in joining the likes of Northeast Nodaway (1976-1979) and St. Joseph’s Academy (1991-1994) to four-peat and IWA hopes to add to that next year. Since the 2012 State Semifinal loss the Red Knights have not lost to a Missouri high school, losing only to two Arkansas high schools and a Tennessee high school and the Red Knights have been in Class Four the last three years and will be there at least next year.
IWA may have shared the MSHSAA record with two other schools in Girls Basketball but the seven titles are not a school record in any sport. Girls Volleyball is the first sport to win a state title which was in 1976 and has won 11 titles but has not won since 2005. Girls Soccer was second when they won in 1989 and has won nine but has not won since 2009.
Overall IWA has won 27 MSHSAA State titles, most by any North County high school. That surpasses the combined amount of 26 won by Berkeley High (21) and McCluer South-Berkeley (five) and 25 of the 26 titles were won by both the Boys and Girls Track and Field Teams combined. The most by any Florissant Valley area high schools is 22 combined by Hazelwood High (three) and Hazelwood Central (19) with Football and Boys Track and Field each winning five titles. IWA secured their third consecutive state title, their seventh overall with two wins at Mizzou Arena in Columbia on the University of Missouri campus. In the March 19 semifinal win over Bolivar, 78-55, the Red Knights outscored Bolivar 66-39 through three quarters. While Abbey Hoff led all scorers with 29 points Naphessa Collier, who will be attending the University of Connecticut next year, nearly triple-doubled with 28 points, 14 rebounds and nine blocked shots.
The March 21 championship game against Mary Institute-Country Day School, won 60-27 by IWA, was a rematch of a Jan. 13 game won by the Red Knights, 53-45. MICDS, who played in their first state title game, finished 26-3 with two losses to IWA and a third loss to a Tennessee high school. IWA, with their seventh state title in eight championship game appearances, finished 29-2 with 28 wins in a row after opening the season with a 1-2 record against Arkanwas high schools in an Arkansas Tournament.
In her final high school basketball game as a Red Knight Collier scored 30 points, 19 rebounds, five assists and a solid performance on defense before being lifted in the title game’s final seconds so the crowd at could applaud her prep career performance.
IWA has wins over North County high schools including Hazelwood Central, 74-49 Dec. 26, 2014 at the Visitation Christmas Tournament, at McCluer North 59-32 Jan. 20 and Jennings, 67-27 in the Class Four, District Six final March 6 at Normandy.
CLASS FOUR BOYS — St. Charles High School won only their second state title ever, the first since 1957, a year in which there were only two high schools north of now Interstates 270 and 70 between the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Then, Hazelwood High’s first location is now Hazelwood East Middle School (formerly Kirby Junior High) and St. Thomas Aquinas was located at Sacred Heart Parish school before moving to the Dunn Rd. location, now North County Christian School. It was only St. Charles sixth title in all sports since 1943 but the first since Cross Country in 1992.
CLASS FIVE — Chaminade, who defeated Hazelwood Central Boys 70-47 March 14 in the Quarterfinal and Parkway North Girls, who defeated Hazelwood Central Girls 57-45 March 5 in the District Six Final, each finished third in State at Mizzou Arena. Chaminade lost 53-50 March 20 to Park Hill South, eventual runner up to Blue Springs South, then on March 21 defeated Metro Catholic Conference rival St. Louis University High 71-35. Parkway North lost 55-54 March 20 to Liberty, eventual runner up to Rock Bridge on a rebound shot.
