Scott City girls basketball team reaches Class 3 quarterfinals

HILLSBORO, Mo. -- Andrea Gray has been a solid role player off the bench for the Scott City girls basketball team.

But Gray turned into a star Wednesday night as the Rams notched one of the program's biggest wins.

Gray, a junior guard listed as 5 foot 2, scored a career-high 17 points as the Rams beat Crystal City 53-44 in a Class 3 sectional at Jefferson College.

"It's the best game I've ever seen her play," said Katie Hogan, the Rams' standout 6-2 junior.

There was no argument from Gray, who couldn't stop smiling as she received congratulations from well-wishers immediately following the contest.

Scott City's Stacey Heisserer dives for the ball as Scott City's Katie Rhymer and Crystal City's Malorie Smith and Amanda Killgore, from left, look on, during the second quarter of a MSHSAA Class 3 sectional game at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo., on Wednesday, March 9, 2011. (Kristin Eberts)

"It's the best game I've ever had. It's crazy," Gray said.

The Rams (23-6), posting their first sectional victory since 1996, will shoot for their first final four berth Saturday when they play Kennett (28-2) in a 2:45 p.m. quarterfinal at Poplar Bluff High School.

"It's a great feeling," Gray said. "Coach came into the locker room and said we just made history."

Said first-year Scott City coach Ricky Keller: "I'm really proud of them. They did a great job. That's [1996] a long time."

While Hogan had her usual strong performance -- a double-double of 17 points and 15 rebounds to go along with seven blocks -- Gray and senior guard Stacey Heisserer also came up big.

Scott City's Katie Rhymer fights to protect the ball from Crystal City's Malorie Smith, left, and Elizabeth Lafloure, right, during the second quarter of a MSHSAA Class 3 sectional game at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo., on Wednesday, March 9, 2011. (Kristin Eberts)

Heisserer was the Rams' third-leading scorer with 13 points, including a steal and layup with 8 seconds left in the first half that sent Scott City to the locker room ahead 25-24.

"She always brings intensity," Keller said.

The same goes for Gray, but Wednesday she added an unusually big scoring performance.

Gray paced the Rams with eight points during a tight first half that featured five ties, five lead changes and no advantage bigger than four points.

"She kept us in the game the first half," Keller said.

Scott City's Katie Hogan (11) and Melanie Lacey (4) celebrate their Class 3 sectional victory with teammates Wednesday at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo. The Rams defeated Crystal City 53-44. (Kristin Eberts)

Crystal City (23-5) scored the first basket of the second half to go up 26-25 but Hogan answered with one of her two 3-pointers, putting the Rams back on top 28-26.

Scott City never relinquished the lead but carried just a 32-31 advantage into the fourth quarter.

The final period, however, belonged to the Rams as they outscored the Hornets 21-13.

"They buckled down," Keller said. "Before the start of the fourth quarter I've never seen them so focused. I could tell they wanted it."

Gray scored nine fourth-quarter points and Hogan added six, all from within a few feet of the basket.

Scott City players celebrate a basket during the fourth quarter of a MSHSAA Class 3 sectional game against Crystal City at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo., on Wednesday, March 9, 2011. (Kristin Eberts)

"I told them we had to get the ball into Katie the last quarter," Keller said.

The Rams were ahead 40-38 midway through the fourth quarter when they finally pulled away for good.

A basket by Hogan made it 42-38. After a steal by senior guard Melanie Lacey, Hogan scored again for a 44-38 lead.

Gray then may Crystal City pay for a second straight turnover, burying her second 3-pointer with 3 minutes, 12 seconds left. All of a sudden the Rams led 47-38 for the night's biggest margin.

"We kept our composure," Gray said.

The Hornets got no closer than seven points the rest of the way as the Rams iced the victory by making 6 of 7 free throws in the final 1:31.

Gray went 4 of 5 from the line during that stretch while Heisserer was 2 of 2.

"Free throws won it for us at the end," Keller said.

Gray could not have predicted her performance, but she said she felt especially good all day.

"Everybody at school was really pumped up," Gray said. "Just knowing it's a huge game. ... I was extremely fired up."

The same should hold true Saturday as the Rams shoot for school history.

"We're pumped," Hogan said.

Crystal City 14 10 7 13 -- 44

Scott City 11 14 7 21 -- 53

CRYSTAL CITY (44) -- Chelsea Thurman 7, Spencer Portell 7, Kalynn Taylor 2, Daniece Riney 7, Amanda Kilgore 11, Malorie Smith 10. FG 16, FT 10-17, F 23. (3-pointers: Thurman 1, Portell 1. Fouled out: Portell)

SCOTT CITY (53) -- Lindsey Ressel 1, Stacey Heisserer 13, Melanie Lacey 3, Katie Rhymer 2, Katie Hogan 17, Andrea Gray 17. FG 17, FT 15-25, F 16. (3-pointers: Hogan 2, Gray 2. Fouled out: none)