Central girls basketball team can't complete comeback against Kennett

~ The Tigers' season ended with a 46-43 loss in the first round of district play

Undaunted by a 32-point loss suffered at the hands of Kennett back in mid-January, the Central girls basketball team came into Saturday's Class 4 District 1 game determined to make amends.

And the Tigers nearly did.

But in the end, the fifth-seeded Tigers couldn't overcome an early 10-2 deficit and fell to the fourth-seeded Indians 46-43 to close the season at 5-22.

"Overall, I was really proud of my kids," said Central coach Sherri Shirrell. "One of the best games we played this year. We've had a hard season. I thought the kids came out and played with a lot of heart and a lot of desire, and they gave their best effort, so I'm not going to fault their effort at all tonight."

Central forward Bailey Bliss and Kennett freshman Heidi Shetley dive after the ball during the Tigers' 46-43 loss to the Indians in the Class 4 District 1 girls basketball tournament Saturday, March 1, at Central High School in Cape Girardeau. (Adam Vogler)

Central battled back and trailed 38-33 moments into the final quarter. Sophomore Kassidy Pannier was fouled on a 3-point attempt but missed all three free throws.

Kennett's Kathryn Shetley hit two free throws on the Indians' ensuing possession, and what could have been a two-point game was instead a seven-point deficit, and the Tigers' season came to an abrupt end.

"Yeah, we missed those free throws, and that was tough," Shirrell said. "But, you know, that happens."

Kennett's Heidi Shetley finished with a game-high 20 points, but the Tigers made the freshman forward work for her shots.

"Our plan was to double-down on her in the low post," Shirrell said. "She's big, and she's physical, and she's bigger than us. So it was going to take two of us."

Central guard Morgan Duschell is fouled Kelly´s Emily Bolen during the Tigers' 46-43 loss to the Indians in the Class 4 District 1 girls basketball tournament Saturday, March 1, at Central High School in Cape Girardeau. (Adam Vogler)

Central senior Bailey Bliss was one of the Tigers charged with making life difficult for Shetley underneath.

"Sandwich her," said Bliss about the Tigers' defensive effort on Shetley. "Give her no room whatsoever."

Central knotted the score at 12 following Pannier's 3-pointer from the top of the key midway through the second quarter, and Central took a 19-16 lead after junior guard Maddie Daum scored on a drive with 1:37 left in the half.

But Kennett scored the final five points of the period to take a 21-19 lead at intermission.

"We struggled getting set up in our press tonight, which is what caused our big win in the first game," Kennett coach James Halitzka said. "That's a mental lapse on our part. I thought the girls did a better job in the second half getting set up better and moving better on offense. Did a good job finding our freshman in the post."

With the score tied at 23 early in the third, Kennett went on a 7-2 run to open up a 30-25 cushion midway through the third, and the Indians maintained that advantage well into the final quarter.

The Tigers still had life after Bliss scored in the lane to pull within 45-41 with 22.8 seconds remaining, but Kathryn Shetley hit one of two free throws to put the Indians up by five, and after Kelly Morton missed a 3-pointer, the Indians forced a jump ball and took possession.

Morton's layup just before the final buzzer provided the final margin.

"We didn't have the best season at all, that's kind of obvious," Daum said. "But we played for the full four quarters, and we've been struggling with that all season."

Morton led the Tigers with 10 points.

"If we would have won no games this year, I wouldn't have traded [my teammates] for anyone," Bliss said. "I was proud of this year. We had a lot of good moments, too."

As a veteran coach, Shirrell knows making it through a tough season can bode well for the future.

"You look at our bench, and we had two seniors and two juniors, and the rest are freshmen and sophomores," she said. "We're looking forward to working with those kids and getting them ready to play next year."

Central 5 14 11 13 -- 43

Kennett 10 11 15 10 -- 46

CENTRAL (43) -- Morgan Duschell 4, Kelly Morton 10, Sarah Boerboom 7, Kassidy Pannier 8, Maddie Daum 8, Bailey Bliss 6. FG 17, FT 7-18, F 13. (3-pointers: Pannier 2. Fouled out: none)

KENNETT (46) -- Khadijah Whitfield 2, Shondrea Wynne 4, Hadley Hilburn 3, Kathryn Shetley 14, Sydney Patton 3, Heidi Shetley 20. FG 18, FT 7-16, F 14. (3-pointers: K. Shetley 2, Patton 1. Fouled out: none)