The North Callaway girls played South Callaway a month prior and were a different team in the rematch.

North Callaway vs South Callaway Photo Gallery

The Ladybirds beat their county rival 49-29 on Thursday at home in their second victory over South Callaway this season and seventh straight overall in the rivalry. One game after scoring a season-high in a 69-31 win at Wright City, North Callaway allowed a season-low to South Callaway.

In the first meeting with South Callaway (8-13), North Callaway’s defense allowed 53 points, including 25 points to McKenzie Laughlin. This time, Laughlin finished with 11 points to lead a South Callaway team that didn’t eclipse double-digit scoring in any quarter.

“The two and half weeks or so or ever since the Bowling Green Tournament, we’ve just done a better job of finding out what our identity is going to be as a team,” head coach Andrew Klein said. “We’ve emphasized toughness and physicality. Part of that is being able to play four quarters of solid defense.”

North Callaway (12-11) finished with 14 steals, led by Lakyn Hartley’s five steals to go with a stuffed stat line of 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Natalie Shryock led the Ladybirds with 14 points and four 3-pointers, and Sophie Olsson had 10 points.

Kymorie Myers stood out with a team-high eight rebounds but also had four steals while playing shutdown defense on Laughlin this time. South Callaway threw the ball into the waiting arms of or off a North Callaway defender. 

“Kymorie Myers, I know she is a star softball player, but she’s emerged as one of our best defenders so we put her on the girl that scored 25 on us the first time,” Klein said. “Lakyn Hartley has been our best defender all year. Her and her sister (Livia) have been great on-ball defenders and off-ball defenders.”

Adding possessions via turnovers and taking advantage with points of those defensive plays makes the game easier, Klein said. The games have ended positively as of late because of that greater ease as North Callaway made it five wins in seven games. 

Shryock said the team depends on multiple freshmen, including three that cycle through the starting lineup: Olsson, Livia Hartley and her sister Anna Shryock. Natalie Shryock said these girls are accustomed to how the Ladybirds’ play, and the defensive difference after one month against South Callaway proves that.

“We’re starting to play together more,” Shryock said. “We’ve got a bunch of freshmen playing. They’re learning to play with us more and making each other better.”

Olsson started her freshman season in the starting lineup and was moved to the bench in some games in favor of Anna Shryock. Lately, Olsson has emerged by scoring a varsity career-high 22 points in a 69-31 win at conference foe Wright City on Monday last week. Klein said it is mainly the opponent matchup that determines who starts the game and who will be a weapon off the bench.

Against South Callaway, Olsson had a fast start by scoring six points in the first quarter. She and Lakyn Hartley were aggressive by taking the ball to the rim off turnovers.

“Sophie is a special person and player,” Klein said. “She’s just awesome to coach, and the last few weeks, has been maybe one of our most important players offensively and defensively. 

“Anna is a great player too. She stretches the floor for us on offense, and she could shoot a little like her sister.”

The final three regular season games for North Callaway this season are all against district opponents: Montgomery County, Mark Twain and Bowling Green. Shryock said the Ladybirds can find out soon how well they match up with the postseason competition.

“I think so,” Shryock said when asked whether the team will be ready for districts. “We’ve got our last three conference games, and those are all district teams. Hopefully, we can finish this out well.”