Community R-VI senior guard Natalie Thomas jets past a Chamois player as she drives toward the rim for a score during a Class 1 state quarterfinal game victory March 3. Thomas and the Lady Trojans met Walnut Grove in a state semifinal game Thursday in Springfield and had their season come to an end, losing 52-47. Thomas scored seven points. [Chuck Embree/Ledger file photo]

The most successful season in Community R-VI girls basketball history came to an end Thursday evening at the 2020 MSHSAA Class 1 state championship semifinals held on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield.

The No. 1 state-ranked Lady Trojans fell 52-47 to No. 2-ranked and defending state champion Walnut Grove in a game that featured six lead changes, with neither school garnering more than a two-possession lead against the other.

Community (28-2) took its last lead of the contest at 43-41 with senior Sadie Hoyt's score off the window with 4:04 remaining. The Tigers of Walnut Grove (27-5) scored six unanswered points over the course of about three and a half minutes. While holding onto a 48-47 advantage with 20 seconds left, Walnut Grove's Faith Gilkey would go 4-for-4 at the free-throw line in the remaining seconds to seal the win.

Walnut Grove was set to have the opportunity to defend its state title Friday afternoon against South Nodaway (28-3), a 43-34 semifinal winner over South Iron (25-5).

“This had all the makings of a state championship game,” Community coach Bob Curtis said. “It was well-played, the scoring went back and forth and neither one of us had a lead of more than four points until the very end.

“Unfortunately we were down and kind of forced to take a 3-pointer and missed it. Then we had to foul them in the final minute. They missed the front end of a one-and-one twice and we could not capitalize. That was a crushing blow. Then in the last few seconds Walnut Grove made their free throws.”

Community senior Dalaney Bowers — who is taking her talents next year to John Wood College in Quincy, Illinois — led her team in scoring with 15 points, while Hoyt finished with nine. Sophomore Alexis Welch supplied eight points and grabbed nine rebounds. Senior Natalie Thomas, who is continuing her playing career at William Woods University in Fulton, had seven points. Senior Deann Brooks and freshman Sarah Angel both tossed in three points, and junior Brianna Beamer chipped in two.

The Lady Trojans clung to a 21-20 halftime lead, then fell behind 37-35 when the fourth quarter began.

Community made 4 of 5 free throws in the game, and the Tigers went 12-for-15.

The top scorers for Walnut Grove were Gilkey with 19 points, while Makayla McVay scored 17 and Lauren Johnson added seven.

While the 2019-20 season was historic for Community as the girls team set a program record for its most wins in a season at 28, the state Final Four will also be memorable due to a world-wide health scare that has escalated this week.

The novel coronavirus pandemic this week has changed the landscape of sports. Here in the U.S., the popular NCAA March Madness tournaments for both men's and women's basketball have been canceled as a precaution, and games in the NBA, MLS, NHL and MLB spring training have been suspended or canceled.

MSHSAA officials also were forced to make tough decisions late Wednesday evening about public safety at its state championship finals for Classes 1-3 being held this week. Only boys and girls semifinal and championship games are to be played this year, with no third-place games, and only 150 people from each school are being allowed to attend each game in an effort to help control and prevent the COVID-19 virus from spreading.

As a result, both Community and South Iron will share third place.

“The late notice we received about the coronavirus and changes made to the state finals was tough to learn and was frustrating as a lot of hard decisions had to be made because they only let 150 people from each school into the gym to watch,” Curtis said. “But what is more hurtful to me is that our girls do not have the opportunity to actually play for third place and a chance to end the season with a win.

“This has been a special group of girls I've had the pleasure to work with. The (six) seniors on our team have won three conference and district titles, several tournaments, finished third place at the state championships twice and have helped put together a 94-21 record in their high school career.”

Regardless of how the Tiger girls finish Friday, this season marks Walnut Grove's 11th finish in the top three in Class 1 since 2003, with six state championships and counting during this span.

nav-oc Naviga Writer 2020-03-13T13:52:25Z false yes SPORTS By Chuck Embree The Mexico Ledger