C4S1 GBB: Rebels get defensive with Doniphan yet again

FARMINGTON – No one needs to tell fifth-year Doniphan girl’s basketball coach Adam Epps how good Central (Park Hills) is defensively.

The Rebels ended the Donettes 2021-22 season in the MSHSAA Class 4 Sectional 1 game by holding Epps’ squad, which had averaged over 57 points per game that season, to a mere 38 points.

On Tuesday, Central (Park Hills) did it again.

The Rebels contained Doniphan for much of the final three quarters to win the same game 46-37.

“They were more physical than we were,” Epps said following the loss. “They kind of pushed around in the post and we let them. And they play that sag-off man, so it is hard to get good looks.”

Central (Park Hills) (26-3) battled to a 14-11 lead after the first quarter but stretched the margin to 26-17 by halftime.

“We’re a team that likes to get downhill,” Epps continued. “They are good at taking your strengths away.”

The 37 points matched a season-low by the Donettes (26-3), and they had to rally furiously to get that amount.

Trailing 40-24 early in the final period, Doniphan’s kids fought tooth-and-nail to claw back into the game, and with less than two minutes remaining, Epps’ team trailed by just seven points.

“We got a little frustrated,” Epps said, “and didn’t shoot some high-percentage shots. We didn’t really turn it on until they started holding the ball.”

The Donettes, who won the most games in program history this season since 2001, scored 13 points in the final eight minutes, with eight coming from senior guard McKenna Monaghan.

The loss ended this season, but no team is capable of diminishing what the four Doniphan seniors achieved over the past four seasons.

Monaghan, Taylor Davis, Brooklynn Klepzig, and Gracen Kirby led the program to three District championships and 93 wins over their careers.

“Everybody counted (the seniors) out,” Epps said of this season.

Doniphan graduated four starters, not just players, but STARTERS, off a 24-win team from a year ago, yet this year’s team won 26 games, including four tournaments (Lady Dawg Invitational, Lady Royal Christmas Classic, Ozark Foothills Conference Tournament, and the recent MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 Tournament).

“People were not speaking real highly of us this year,” Epps said. “This sets the tone with this senior group because they took their team and played with a chip on their shoulder all year long.

“They weren’t going to be denied a District championship.”

Monaghan closed her career by leading Doniphan with 17 points, while Kirby added eight points.

Sarah Owen chipped in six points for the Donettes, while Kenzie Redus (four), and Peyton Lowrey (two) also contributed.

“These girls won every tournament that they were in, minus the state tournament,” Epps said. “I don’t know how many teams can say that.”

Only one team in each MSHSAA class can, which leaves Doniphan in pretty select company.