Good games aren't necessarily close. Close games aren't necessarily good.
On Saturday, the Helias Lady Crusaders and School of the Osage Lady Indians played a good game that was close for the Class 4 District 10 title at Rackers Fieldhouse in Jefferson City.
It was a one-possession game on the scoreboard for most of the final 13-plus minutes as the Lady Crusaders edged the Lady Indians 45-42.
"Every possession counted," Helias coach Sarah Eagan said. "Offensively, we needed to get a good look. Defensively, we had to get a stop."
Helias (16-11) got enough good looks and stops to advance to Tuesday night's sectional game against Owensville (21-5) at Missouri S&T in Rolla. Game time is 6 p.m. Owensville defeated Pacific 50-30 for the District 9 title Saturday.
"I am so happy for the girls," Eagen, in her first year at Helias, said. "They have worked so hard since I got here."
The Lady Indians played well down the stretch to keep the game close.
"I know I'm going to second-guess a few things we could have done differently, but for being as young as we are, we reacted very well," Osage coach Scott Rowland said. "We didn't do much wrong, Helias just made some free throws, we missed some tough shots."
Helias closed the first half with a 5-0 spurt to take a 26-18 advantage into intermission. But things took a turn in the opening seconds of the third quarter when Helias post player Mai Nienhueser went to the bench after being whistled for her third foul.
"She sets the tone for us, having her on the floor is a comfort for us," Eagan said. "It's hard to have her out."
The Lady Indians took full advantage, scoring 10 of the game's next 12 points to tie it at 28 with 4:40 remaining in the third quarter.
"I had no doubt we were going to come back," Rowland said. "We were a different team in that third quarter."
Foul trouble or no foul trouble, Nienhueser returned to the floor once the game was tied and scored Helias' next bucket as the game entered the fourth quarter knotted at 31.
"They came out strong, we were struggling," Eagan said.
The biggest lead for either team was two points for the first 5:07 of the fourth quarter. Osage took its largest lead of the game when Jordyn Bartlett's free throw made it 39-36 with 2:53 remaining.
Helias answered on the next possession when Ashley Rehagen drilled a 3-pointer to tie it at 39. That started a 6-0 run for the Lady Crusaders, who got a free throw from Morgan Wieberg and a basket by Nienhueser to take a 42-39 advantage with 1:33 remaining.
A free throw by Gabrielle Hill pulled Osage to within 42-40 with 1:23 left.
Luci Francka gave Helias its biggest lead since early in the third quarter when she made two from the stripe to give the Lady Crusaders a 44-40 edge with 1:22 left.
Hill made two from the line on Osage's next possession to make it 44-42. Helias missed a shot before Osage turned the ball over with about :45 remaining.
Francka was fouled with :24.7 left and converted one of two free throws to make it 45-42. Helias hit just 5-of-12 free throws in the fourth quarter and 11-of-22 in the game.
"We did not look good at the line," Eagan said. "Luci thankfully hit some at the end."
Osage had a chance to tie it in the final seconds, but a 3-pointer was tipped and fell short.
"When everybody in the gym knows you have to have a 3, it becomes a tougher shot," Rowland said. "I know it was very difficult and it didn't get to the rim, but I would rather have that than dribbling in and shooting an open 15-footer. Then we know we don't have a chance."
Hill led Osage, which ends its season at 21-6, with 11 points. Bartlett had a double-double for the Lady Indians, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
"We weren't able to finish it all the way, but we didn't go into a shell," Rowland said. "I am so proud of our effort."
Francka paced Helias with 15 points. Nienhueser totaled 14 points and 11 rebounds.