Bravettes buckle against experienced Naylor team in Class 1 sectional

~ Scott County Central fell 65-51 in the Class 1 sectional round

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Naylor girls basketball team has played in the Class 1 sectional year after year as of late.

The players on the Scott County Central team never had played in a sectional game and it showed in a 65-51 loss, according to first-year coach Matt Limbaugh.

"We cracked under the pressure in the big-game situation," Limbaugh said. "Naylor has been here time and time again, and we looked like rookies tonight. We really did. We looked like rookies in this game, so hopefully my underclassmen can be able to embellish this situation and be able to improve and mature for next season and use this as fuel for next year also."

The Bravettes, who had just one senior on their roster, finished the season 20-7.

The Scott County Central girls basketball team leaves the court after losing to Naylor 65-51 in the Class 1 sectional game Tuesday in Bloomfield, Mo. (Fred Lynch)

"I told them that even in tough times you've got to keep your head up and look in the past and know that it was a successful season," Limbaugh said. "We really didn't have much expectation coming in. You lost your district championship by 20 [last season], and really nobody expected you to do much. The girls really put in the time and effort preseason. We had a great year. Tell a coach that you're going to win 20 games in a season, he'd say he'd take that any year. You've got to look at the positives right there."

Naylor took an early lead in the first quarter before SCC closed the period on an 8-0 run to lead 15-13.

"I think it was the coach, the pep talk that we had," senior Ann Dennis said of what sparked the run. "He was like, 'You guys stop going through the motions. Let's get through this. Let's go.' We just got warmed up."

Six of the eight points were scored after offensive rebounds, the last of which came from Dennis. She scored a game-high 21 points, including 11 in the first quarter.

"I thought Ann really picked us up, had some big shots for us down there," Limbaugh said. "We're going to miss her. She's our lone senior, and she's been a great addition to our team. We're going to miss her tremendously. I really thought she stepped up and hit some big shots for us and got us some momentum."

FRED LYNCH flynch@semissourian.com (Scott County Central’s Ann Dennis shoots over Naylor’s Shayna Tharp, left, and Darby Pruett during the first quarter of their Class 1 sectional game Tuesday in Bloomfield, Mo.)

Naylor earned a 35-28 halftime lead, then scored 11 of the first 14 points of the second half to extend its cushion.

"After the locker room speech you want your team to come out with fire, and I felt like we still came out and played flat," Limbaugh said. "Naylor just put it to us. They came out with fire and was able to put it right to us and kind of put their foot on our throat, and that's when they went up by 20. You credit the girls for trying to make a comeback right there, but you get yourself in such a deep hole it's tough to get out of."

The Bravettes went on an 9-0 run in the fourth quarter but pulled no closer than 11 points.

"Naylor's a great team," Limbaugh said. They're well coached. They completely took us out of the game. As a coach, you didn't even recognize your team in some possessions down the stretch. That's what good teams do to you. They completely take you out of your mindset. We just didn't have it tonight."

SCC junior Mikaela Blissett finished with 10 points, and junior Johniqua Fort added eight.

"It's just a learning experience," Blissett said. "It's our first time here, so we just want to come back stronger next year."

SCC 15 13 9 14 -- 51

Naylor 13 22 17 13 -- 65

SCOTT COUNTY CENTRAL (51) -- Mikaela Blissett 10, Johniqua Fort 8, Derien Ditto 3, Ziaire Davis 4, Abby Ross 5, Ann Dennis 21. FG 22, FT 3-2, F 15. (3-pointers: Fort 1, Ditto 1, Ross 1, Dennis 1. Fouled out: none)

NAYLOR (65) -- Andrea Sullivan 11, Shayna Tharp 20, Ericka Engelman 2, Darby Pruett 18, Charity McCoy 6, Mary Elder 6, Brooklyn Urich 2. (3-pointers: Sullivan 3, Tharp 4. Fouled out: none)