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Incarnate Word Hoop Title Streak Ends At 3, Chaminade Wins Class 5
By Jim Wieners
After three consecutive seasons, when Napheesa Collier led the Incarnate Word Academy Red Knights to three consecutive Class Four State Girls Basketball titles, the road to a fourth straight state title fell short.
Last weekend Incarnate Word went to Mizzou Arena, in Columbia on the University of Missouri campus, without Collier, who is now at the University of Connecticut, but on a 20-game winning streak after a 5-4 start.
The Red Knights went home after two straight losses and a fourth-place trophy. It was the second time IWA finished fourth in state, with the only other time being in 1999.
Incarnate saw their 20-game win streak and three straight seasons with a state title end March 19 with a 60-51 Class Four Semifinal loss to Mary Institute-Country Day School. It was the first time that MICDS defeated IWA after the Red Knights defeated the Rams 11 consecutive times including two games this season.
MICDS won the game in the fourth quarter when the Rams outscored IWA 21-8 after the Red Knights led 43-39 after three quarters. Taylor Iversen Baur led MICDS with 24 points while Rachel Thompson added 13. Sonya Morris led IWA with 17 points while Abbey Hoff added 13.
The next day, March 19, IWA lost 53-48 in the Class Four third place game to Owensville and it was the Dutchgirls best finish in State, ever. IWA led 30-20 at halftime but the second half, and the game, belonged to Owensville as the Dutchgirls outscored the Red Knights 35-18. Hailey Diestelkamp led Owensville with 16 points while Incarnate’s Grace Fortman led all scorers with 20 points.
CHAMINADE won their second state title in school history, both in Class Five, at Mizzou Arena. The Red Devils, who also won State in 2009, routed Metro Catholic Conference rival St. Louis University High 75-49 in the March 17 Semifinals and on March 19 defeated Springfield-based Kickapoo, 72-59 in the State Championship Game.
Chaminade, which defeated SLUH three times including two MCC games, was led by Duke University-bound Jayson Tatum who scored 28 points, Tyler Cook scored 14 and Michael Lewis II added 12. Mathew Leritz and Brandon McKissic led SLUH with 13 points each while David Jackson added 10.
Against Kickapoo Chaminade made 80 percent of their free throws (16/20) including 10 out of 11 from Tatum who ended his high school career with 40 points and 14 rebounds while Cook added 17. Cameron Davis led Kickapoo with 17 points.
