Missouri high school basketball playoffs: Five things worth a second look

Here are five things worth a second look regarding 816 North area teams in the high school basketball playoffs, which were completed last weekend with the Missouri Class 4 and 5 boys and girls state tournaments in Columbia.

1. Liberty girls third

A trip two hours east began with promise. The Liberty girls basketball team arrived in Columbia last Thursday as the only team to reach the Missouri Class 5 Final Four in each of the last two seasons.

But the advantage of experience didn’t carry the Blue Jays far. Springfield Kickapoo ended their state-championship bid with a 55-49 semifinal decision. A day later, Liberty won the third-place game.

Even though their state-title hopes fell short, the Liberty seniors will graduate as one of most accomplished classes in school history. They are the only class to reach two Final Fours.

It was an especially memorable playoff run this year for senior Morgan Fleming, who in the quarterfinals became the school’s all-time leading scorer. She finished with 1,642 points for her career.

2. St. Pius X girls third

St. Pius X qualified for the Missouri Class 3 girls state tournament for the first time since 2000, and the Warrriors didn’t return empty-handed.

A late-game comeback ensured that.

The Warriors trailed for nearly 30 minutes before rallying for a 57-55 win against Southern Boone in the third-place game.They finished the season 26-4.

It could be a sign of things to come, too.

The Warriors top four scorers from this season’s team — Abby Hipp, Antoinette Mussorici, Natalie Denzer and Amanda Hayes — are underclassmen. Hipp finished with 14.5 points and 9.9 rebounds per game this season.

3. Liberty North boys

After the first undefeated conference season in program history, the Liberty North boys team added another district title to the collection. It came in a manner indicative of the Eagles’ season.

A block from senior Michael Hughes.

Liberty North edged rival Liberty 45-44 for the Class 5, District 15 title when Hughes swatted Jalen Lewis’ game-winning layup attempt as the horn sounded. Liberty North fell to Lee’s Summit in the quarterfinals, but it finished the season 25-4.

Hughes will graduate as the school’s all-time blocks leader and has signed to attend Akron.

4. Park Hill South boys

A year after making its first trip to the Missouri Class 5 state championship game, the Park Hill South boys team was thought be in rebuilding mode.

Instead, it simply re-loaded.

The Panthers won another district championship before bowing out of the sectional round with a 57-56 loss to Liberty North.

Senior Ryan Welty joined the 1,000-point career club this season. He was one of only two seniors on a team that could have a bright future. Freshmen Desi Williams and Lamel Robinson played prominent roles in the postseason success.

5. Lawson boys

The Lawson boys team finished one game shy of reaching the Missouri Class 3 Final Four — after it ran into eventual state runner-up Barstow — but it will look back on the season fondly.

Lawson used a 12-game winning streak to advance to the state quarterfinals, and junior point guard Cody Glenn scored 21 points per game in the four postseason victories.

The Cardinals finished 23-7.