The Chamois Lady Pirates are one win away from their first trip to the Final Four.
The Norborne Lady Pirates (25-2), ranked No. 4 in Class 1, stand in Chamois' way in a 2:45 p.m. state quarterfinal today at Truman State. Chamois is ranked seventh with a 21-7 record.
"They have a really good post player, she does a lot of their scoring," Chamois coach Marty Gerloff said of Norborne's Cheyenne Baxter. "She's six feet tall. I know we have to contain her. She's very good in the post if she catches it.
"They have a couple really nice 3-point shooters."
Norborne won the Class 1 District 12 Tournament with victories against Brunswick (59-20) and Tina-Avalon (36-18) before topping Meadville 48-38 in the sectional round Thursday.
Chamois won the Class 1 District 9 Tournament with victories against Missouri School for the Deaf (58-15), Community R-VI (43-11) and Glasgow (47-37) before topping Marion County 59-33 in the sectional round Thursday. The win over Marion County avenged a 58-52 overtime quarterfinal loss last season.
"It would mean so much," Gerloff said about what reaching the Final Four would mean. "After losing to Marion County last year, these girls have set their sights on making it farther. We were right there last year. These girls have worked so hard for this, starting through the summer and during the season. They're the hardest working bunch of girls I've ever seen. It would mean a lot for the program and the future, no doubt."
Norborne's two losses this season have come Jan. 8 against Class 1's Hardin-Central (48-38) and Jan. 26 to Class 2's Marceline (35-33).
Chamois has yet to lose to a Class 1 foe this season, falling to Class 4 Owensville, Class 3's Fatima (twice), Hermann and St. James, and Class 2's Sturgeon and New Haven.
"If you look at our record without looking at who we played, sure, it can easily get looked passed," Gerloff said. "I'm sure if he (Norbone coach Michael Lock) talked to anybody that knows us or saw us play Thursday, he'll know (we're pretty good)."
If Chamois wins today, the Lady Pirates will play the North Andrew-Mercer winner in the state semifinals at 8:20 p.m Thursday at the Hearnes Center in Columbia.