The Tipton Lady Cardinals have come so very close to this point in the past few seasons.
Now that they've advanced to the Final Four, they're going to enjoy it.
"I'm super excited for the girls, the school, the town," Tipton coach Jason Culpepper said last Saturday after the Lady Cardinals claimed a spot in the Class 2 semifinals with a 57-41 win against Paris in the quarterfinals at Moberly Area Community College. "To take them to a Final Four in basketball is surreal."
Tipton (25-5) will face Blue Eye (27-4) at 4:30 p.m. today in the semifinals at the Hammons Student Center in Springfield.
"You dream about it getting to this point as a coach, having a team that's capable," Culpepper said.
The Lady Cardinals have proven to be capable this season, winning 15 games by 30 or more points this season.
Abby Backes, a 5-foot-6 senior guard, leads the Tipton attack and averages 25.4 points per game. Backes had 30 points in Tipton's 74-60 win against Eugene in last week's sectional game.
Myra Claas, a 5-6 freshman guard is next at 16.9 points. Claas scored a team-high 23 points for the Lady Cardinals in the quarterfinal victory.
Alexa Jurgensmeyer, a 5-7 senior guard, is next in scoring for Tipton at 8.9 points per game. Jurgensmeyer has reached double digits in both of the Lady Cardinals' games in the state tournament, totaling 14 against Eugene and 13 in the contest with Paris. Jurgensmeyer leads Tipton in rebounding with 6.1 per game.
The Lady Cardinals have been strong in shooting from distance this season, entering the postseason 225-of-628 (35.8 percent) on 3-pointers. Shooting from deep is a key part of their offense, there's no reason to stop now.
"You might go 0-for-4, then you might go 4-for-4," Culpepper said. "It's going to even out."
Blue Eye isn't hesitant to hoist the 3-pointer as well, going 210-of-645 (32.6 percent) this season.
Kohnnar Patton, a 5-7 senior, leads Blue Eye at 21.4 points per contest. She has hit 82 of her 239 3-point attempts. Patton also tops the team with 5.4 rebounds per game.
Sophomore twins Avery and Riley Arnold also average in double figures for Blue Eye. Avery Arnold is scoring 11.9 points per game, while Riley Arnold totals 11.2.
Tipton, with 5-9 junior Kiley Bailey and 5-10 freshman Briar Cox in the starting lineup, will have a decided height advantage in the semifinal. Blue Eye does not have a player taller than 5-7.
The Tipton-Blue Eye winner will face either Oran (25-5) or East Buchanan (27-3) for the state title at 6:20 p.m. Saturday. The Missouri State High School Activities Association announced Thursday due to concerns about the spread of the cornonavirus, there will not be third-place games in the state tournament this season.
Tipton is the lone unranked team in the final Missouri Basketball Coaches Association's state poll to advance to the Final Four. East Buchanan is No. 2, while Blue Eye is fifth and Oran eighth.