The Class 4 District 16 semifinal between the Chillicothe Lady Hornets and the Lafayette Lady Irish was a rematch of last years district final. This year, the contest between #3 Chillicothe and #2 Lafayette from Lafayette High School would determine top seeded Benton’s district championship opponent. With all three teams ranked in the top 10 in the state of Class 4 basketball, it’s one of the most loaded districts in Missouri.
Early on, Lafayette’s duo in the post controlled the game on both ends. Laniya Carrigar at 6’3” posed more length than the Lady Hornets were accustomed to, pulling down rebounds, blocking shots and deflecting passes, while scoring 10 first half points. Emery Oman provided more physicality down low, and displayed her range for the Lady Irish hitting a pair of outside jumpers leading to 13 points before the break.
The Lady Hornets, down 23-8 midway through the 2nd quarter responded with a run of their own, scoring 7 straight. Leading the way was senior Liz Oliver who had six points for Chillicothe in the first half before Lafayette closed the quarter with the last bucket to take a 26-15 lead into the locker room.
The Lady Hornets seized the momentum early in the third quarter with big baskets from Lydia Bonderer and Lyla Beetsma who both finished with nine points to pace Chillicothe on the night. Lafayette’s lead was down to 8, but the Fighting Irish defense made every possession difficult for Chillicothe, blocking shots inside and contesting on the perimeter. The Lady Hornets went into the 4th quarter down 35-25.
Lafayette prevented Chillicothe from trimming the margin any closer than 8 the rest of the game, as the Lady Hornets failed to hit a three pointer all night. Lafayette’s defense holds opponents to 32 points per game and that is exactly where Chillicothe finished, their 2nd lowest offensive output of the year. Behind big nights from Oman and Carriger who combined for 33, the Lady Irish advanced to the district final defeating Chillicothe 44-32.
Following last seasons historic run to the Final Four, Chillicothe closes out the year 20-7, the 4th straight 20 win season for the Lady Hornets under Coach Darren Smith.
Chillicothe 7 15 25 32
Lafayette 16 26 35 44
Individual scoring:
Chillicothe – Beetsma 9, Bonderer 9, Oliver 8, Emerson Staton 4, Lexy Smith 1, Ava Leamer 1
Lafayette – Oman 20, Carriger 13, Delaney McQuiston 4, Katana Bigham 4, Rozlyn McDevitt 3
