Lady Mt’neers wrap up fantastic season with runner-up finish in state championship

By: 
Skylan Akins

The 2020-2021 basketball season ended last weekend for the Mt. Vernon Lady Mt’neers, who fell 58-54 in the state championship to the Boonville Lady Pirates at JQH Arena on the campus of Missouri State University. Prior to the loss, the local team walloped St. Louis’ Vashon Lady Wolverines in a state semifinal game, 78-55. The following is how the Final Four weekend played out for the Lady Mt’neers who finished the season with a record of 28-4.

Versus Vashon
Mt. Vernon senior Lacy Stokes has said all year that the goal is to win a state championship. Not a district championship. Not a sectional win. Not to go to the Show-Me Showdown. Not to score 2,000 points. All of which has been achieved. It was a championship or bust for the Lady Mt’neers. They had a tough giant to slay, Friday, March 19, in the semifinal game in 17-1 Vashon. Vashon has been ranked in the top three all year and their only loss has been to the best team in the state, regardless of class, Class 6 power Incarnate Word, which was a loss on the road, by only 3 points. To say the Lady Mt’neers had their hands full was an understatement. On paper, Mt. Vernon were heavy underdogs. However, the game is settled on the court, not on paper.
Mt. Vernon senior Lacy Stokes came out quick and hit a jumper from the elbow on the first possession of the game. A free throw by Vashon’s Nariyah Simmons put Vashon up 4-2 with 5:38 left in the first quarter. That would be their final lead of the game. Lady Mt’neer Ellie Johnston got a three to fall to put her team up one. The teams traded buckets until another Johnston three extended the lead up to four; another Stokes bucket put the Lady Mt’neers up six with three minutes to play in the quarter. Mt. Vernon held a slim lead, 16-13 after one.
Sophomore Kadence Krempges got on the board to start the second quarter to extend the lead to 18-13. Mt. Vernon got into foul trouble in the second quarter as Stokes, Johnston, Cameryn Cassity and Raegan Boswell all picked up their second personal in the frame. Boswell got a jumper inside the lane to fall to extend the lead to 10. Boswell was a crucial part of the game as she was a presence in the post on both ends. Vashon wouldn’t go away though, as a run by Marshaun Bostic got the Lady Wolverines back within four. Johnston hit two more threes before the half and Mt. Vernon went into the locker room up 33-26.
The two teams were back and forth once again to get going out of the half. Johnston picked up her fourth foul early in the third quarter and had to come out of the game. Then Stokes took over. She got 10 more points to fall before the quarter ended, as Mt. Vernon staved off a few comeback attempts. Mt. Vernon led 53-45 after three.
Stokes did a fantastic job getting to the free throw line the entire second half, as she started the fourth quarter with two more trips to the charity stripe within the first minute of the quarter. Mt. Vernon traded buckets keeping the Lady Mt’neer lead between 9 and 11 points for the majority of the fourth quarter. Stokes continued to force fouls as Johnston hit a jumper with 5:16 remaining. Stokes went to the free throw five of the next six possessions to push the lead to 20. A free throw by Krempges put a bow on a Green Machine semifinal win 78-55.
“I am so proud of how we played.” Johnston said. “We D’ed up and hit the right shots and I am speechless right now.”
Raegan Boswell was happy to contribute in a big way for the Lady Mt’neers.
“We knew they were going to be bigger than us. I struggled adjusting with the size of Ava in the sectional game. I am so glad that I was able to step up to the plate and help our team win in the biggest game of the season so far,” Boswell said.
Mt. Vernon was led by Stokes with 39 points, six rebounds and five steals. Johnston chipped in 18 points. Boswell played a big part, as well, as she had eight points and a game high nine rebounds.

Versus Boonville
March 20, 2012. Exactly nine years ago to the day, Mt. Vernon defeated Stockton to win the Class 3 state championship. Nine years later, Mt. Vernon was in position to do it again. The Lady Mt’neers were feeling good coming off an upset of top ranked Vashon the night before. They had one final test against the Booneville Lady Pirates to finish their season of destiny.

Mt. Vernon jumped to a 3-1 lead after senior Johnston continued her fantastic weekend with an NBA range three-pointer. The game was physical and both teams struggled to find a rhythm offensively. Cassity was able to get a basket to go at the buzzer, but the Lady Mt’neers trailed 11-8 after one.

The second quarter started with a 5-0 run by the Lady Pirates as Kourtney Kendrick got a bucket and a three to start the quarter. Sharp three-point shooting by Boonville was a story all night as it seemed like just about everyone was falling for the Lady Pirates. They would connect on four in a matter of as many minutes and a cold spell from the Lady Mt’neers allowed the lead to swell to 15 with 1:45 left in the second quarter. Johnston was able to get a three to fall to cut the lead to 33-19 at the half.
Cassity found fellow junior Boswell for a bucket to open the second half. However, Booneville scored the next 10 points. The Booneville lead now at 22, Mt. Vernon head coach Grant Berendt called a timeout to rally the troops. Johnston then notched a three-point play to bring the lead down to 19. However, Kendrick matched with a pair of free throws.
Then Mt. Vernon made their charge. Baskets by Stokes, Cassity and Johnston cut the lead to 15 before Stokes got fouled on a half court heave at the buzzer. She made two of three free throws and Mt. Vernon trailed 45-32 after three.
The teams traded free throws to start the final quarter of play. Boswell made her own three-point play to cut the lead to eight. Johnston got her fourth three to fall and a turnover by Boonville allowed Stokes to get the deficit to just five with 3:37 left in the game. Johnston answered a pair of Boonville free throws with a pair of her own with 2:48 remaining. A free throw by Krempges cut the lead to four with 1:40 left and the Lady Mt’neers and the 800-plus Greene Machine fans started to believe. But alas, a win was not in the cards for Mt. Vernon. A pair of missed shots and a turnover matched with clutch free throw shooting by Boonville secured the victory for the Lady Pirates, 58-54.
“When we walk around this arena, we don’t look like a Class 4 team, but there isn’t a team in the state with more fight than right here.” Coach Berendt said following the game. “I knew we had one more run left in us, but I didn’t know when or how long it was going to last.”
Stokes was equally proud of her team’s effort.
“We may not have the most talent on this team, but we have the most heart,” Stokes said. “That team had four girls who play AAU and most of our girls, basketball isn’t their first sport. So, I am so proud of the fight we had one through eight.”

That’s a wrap
The Lady Mt’neers finish the season 28-4. They will graduate three seniors in Stokes, Johnston and Kruger. This ends their career on the court, but they hope that this isn’t where their impact ends.
“I hope they play each game like it’s their last because one day it will be and you hope that they play their heart out because time flies,” Johnston said.

Johnston and Stokes will go out as two of the most successful Lady Mt’neers ever, as they end their career with a career record of 103-19, four district championships, a state runner-up finish, the love and admiration of an entire community and countless memories made wearing the green and white.

Senior plans
Johnston will attend Morningside College to continue her basketball career. She plans to study elementary education.
Stokes will move down the road to Missouri Southern State University to play basketball for the Lady Lions and major in accounting.
Kruger is signed to attend Southwest Baptist University where she will be a member of the Bearcats track and field team while studying nursing.
 

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Lawrence County Record

312 S. Hickory St.
Mt. Vernon, MO, 65712
www.lawrencecountyrecord.com

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