The Missouri Western women's basketball team got off to a 15-0 start in Thursday's exhibition against NAIA school Peru State, and that pretty much set the tone for the rest of the game.

The Griffons never let the Bobcats get even close, as they rolled to a 108-43 win at the MWSU Fieldhouse in front of 407 fans.

Missouri Western led 50-13 at the break, and had a terrific night all around, shooting 56 percent from the floor and forcing 33 turnovers.

"I thought we did a really good job early of being active," said Griffons head coach Candi Whitaker. "We were much more active early. Loved the energy and the effort."

The Griffons dominated in practically every category. They outscored Peru State 64-14 in the paint, forced 20 steals, blocked nine shots and doled out 32 assists to just 10 turnovers.

"The assist-to-turnover ratio says everything," Whitaker said. "When you can share the basketball like that, it's what you want offensively. I thought we were extremely unselfish, finding open players and really sharing it. Got a great inside out attack. Everyone who came in really contributed. I was excited that all of them got some good minutes and all did well."

Fourteen different Griffons cracked the scoring column Thursday. Senior Corbyn Cunningham led the way with a game-high 16 points on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting night. Sophomore and Missouri State transfer Trinity Knapp had 11 points along with a game-high six rebounds.

Freshman Alissa Bonilla and sophomore Brianna Budgets each had 10. Bonilla, a true freshman from El Paso, also had a game-high seven assists and three steals.

"There was good energy in the building and it was a lot of fun," Whitaker said. "I enjoyed watching our team get up and down and play fast and share the ball."

Peru State got their scoring going a bit in the third quarter, scoring 18 points in that frame. Still, the Bobcats (0-2) shot just 20.8 percent from the field all night, including 3-of-17 from three.

The Griffons were slow to start from three, making just 2-of-12 in the first half, but they sunk five triples in the second half. Bonilla and freshman Jordan Cunningham each made a couple.

On a night where Western scored 64 points in the paint, a 7-of-25 clip from beyond the arc isn't the worst thing in the world.

"I feel good about our ability to shoot the three," Whitaker said. "I think when you combine that in the mix and are still getting paint touches, which is important to us, we have a super balanced attack offensively.

Missouri Western stays home to host the Livin' the Dream Women's Exhibition Team in a Wednesday&nbsp; scrimmage at 6:30. The LTD Women's Team is comprised of&nbsp;former college and current professional players that travel to compete against top-level NCAA, NAIA, JUCO and International Professional teams.

"This is going to be a different-style game, this is going to be a different level of competition," Whitaker said. "I think it will be really good for us."

After that, the Griffons have their first official game at home on Friday, November 12 against Sioux Falls. Tip-off in that game is set for 7:30.

You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635475548236.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western celebrates after ringing the bell, following their 108-43 win over Peru State in Thursday night's exhibition. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western celebrates after ringing the bell, following their 108-43 win over Peru State in Thursday night's exhibition. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Missouri Western women's basketball team got off to a 15-0 start in Thursday's exhibition against NAIA school Peru State, and that pretty much set the tone for the rest of the game.The Griffons never let the Bobcats get even close, as they rolled to a 108-43 win at the MWSU Fieldhouse in front of 407 fans.Missouri Western led 50-13 at the break, and had a terrific night all around, shooting 56 percent from the floor and forcing 33 turnovers."I thought we did a really good job early of being active," said Griffons head coach Candi Whitaker. "We were much more active early. Loved the energy and the effort."The Griffons dominated in practically every category. They outscored Peru State 64-14 in the paint, forced 20 steals, blocked nine shots and doled out 32 assists to just 10 turnovers."The assist-to-turnover ratio says everything," Whitaker said. "When you can share the basketball like that, it's what you want offensively. I thought we were extremely unselfish, finding open players and really sharing it. Got a great inside out attack. Everyone who came in really contributed. I was excited that all of them got some good minutes and all did well."Fourteen different Griffons cracked the scoring column Thursday. Senior Corbyn Cunningham led the way with a game-high 16 points on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting night. Sophomore and Missouri State transfer Trinity Knapp had 11 points along with a game-high six rebounds.Freshman Alissa Bonilla and sophomore Brianna Budgets each had 10. Bonilla, a true freshman from El Paso, also had a game-high seven assists and three steals."There was good energy in the building and it was a lot of fun," Whitaker said. "I enjoyed watching our team get up and down and play fast and share the ball."Peru State got their scoring going a bit in the third quarter, scoring 18 points in that frame. Still, the Bobcats (0-2) shot just 20.8 percent from the field all night, including 3-of-17 from three.The Griffons were slow to start from three, making just 2-of-12 in the first half, but they sunk five triples in the second half. Bonilla and freshman Jordan Cunningham each made a couple.On a night where Western scored 64 points in the paint, a 7-of-25 clip from beyond the arc isn't the worst thing in the world."I feel good about our ability to shoot the three," Whitaker said. "I think when you combine that in the mix and are still getting paint touches, which is important to us, we have a super balanced attack offensively.Missouri Western stays home to host the Livin' the Dream Women's Exhibition Team in a Wednesday&nbsp; scrimmage at 6:30. The LTD Women's Team is comprised of&nbsp;former college and current professional players that travel to compete against top-level NCAA, NAIA, JUCO and International Professional teams."This is going to be a different-style game, this is going to be a different level of competition," Whitaker said. "I think it will be really good for us."After that, the Griffons have their first official game at home on Friday, November 12 against Sioux Falls. Tip-off in that game is set for 7:30.<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Candi-Whitaker---Peru-State-postgame-e19fk9q" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Missouri Western women dominate Peru State in exhibition Thursday

The Missouri Western basketball season officially gets underway on Thursday evening in St. Joseph, as the Griffon women host Peru State in an exhibition.

Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. with coverage starting at 5:30 on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3).

The ceiling for this Griffons team is very high. They went 6-16 last season, but Missouri Western returns six of their top eight scorers from last year, while also adding three transfers and four new freshmen.

Third-year head coach Candi Whitaker knows this team is still young, but she also knows they have a lot to prove.

"I'm really excited about the pieces we've added, and I'm really excited about the progress our young players made throughout last year and in this offseason," Whitaker said. "Looking forward to evolving as a unit and a team and seeing how good we can get."

Missouri Western had six freshmen on the team last year. All of them played, and most of them saw significant minutes.

"We relied on them so heavily," Whitaker said of her freshmen last season. "Sometimes, I would look up and there'd be four or five of them on the floor, which was a struggle at times. But, you saw their evolution throughout the year, and by January and February, they were playing at a much higher level."

After a 2-1 start, Missouri Western lost seven straight. In mid-February, the Griffons went on a three-game winning streak, but lost their last five games to end the year.

Those last five losses, however, were all by 10 points or less. Two of those were by single digits against teams ranked in the top 15 nationally.

"We weren't ready early," Whitaker said of last year. "But, we kept getting better. We kept coming to practice. They had great attitudes and because of that, they turned a corner. We didn't win those games late, but we were in all of them, within one possession and a chance to win."

Youth, is still, the name of the game for Missouri Western. Nine of the 16 players on this year's roster are freshmen. Four of them are brand new, but five of them are back from last year, and did not lose a season of eligibility due to COVID-19.

There are five players listed as freshmen, but they're five players who all have significant playing experience.

"We still are a young team," Whitaker admitted. "But, it's been fun to watch progress for our, I don't know what to call them, experienced freshmen."

Sophomore Brionna Budgets is also a key returner. A transfer from Central Arkansas, Budgets led the Griffons last year with 8.4 points per game, including 25 made three-pointers.

Senior Mychaell Gray is also back after contributing 6.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per contest last year. Another senior who's back is Corbyn Cunningham - a first-team all-MIAA forward, who missed all but three games last year due to injury.

Playing in the final three games, Cunningham scored 16 points and managed 12 rebounds after averaging 15.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in 2019-20.

"She's just naturally very talented," Whitaker said of Cunningham. "Those games she played in last year, she had maybe three practices prior. She was in terrible shape, but for her to be able to do that in such a short amount of time really speaks to Corbyn's ability."

So, that's who's coming back. But, there are several newcomers looking to make an impact, too. Guard, graduate student and St. Joseph native Jaelyn Haggard, for one.

<a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/d8894c5b-0148-45f8-a9c0-242b6b37b4f4">The Central alum announced last spring</a> that she would use her extra year of eligibility to play at Missouri Western, where she got accepted into the University's&nbsp;Physical Therapist Assistant Program.

Haggard left Northwest Missouri State after four years, making 256 three-pointers - the most in Bearcat women’s history.&nbsp; She's also third all-time at Northwest in free throw percentage, shooting 82.8 percent for her career.

"She's very familiar with this league," Cunningham said. "Tremendous motor, shooter. She's quick. I think she has a lot of basketball left in her. Excited to have her."

The Griffons also added Trinity Knapp - a transfer from Division I Missouri State who played in 12 total games over two seasons there. Also new is Connie Clark - a junior guard who came in after two fruitful years in the junior college ranks.

Clark averaged 9.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.7 steals per game in the 2020-21 season at Shelton State Community College in Alabama.

"When you sign and recruit a transfer there needs to be a fit and a need, and all three of them were that," Whitaker noted.

With a core of her 'experienced freshmen,' three veteran transfers, four true freshmen and two new grad assistant coaches, Whitaker can't exactly know how this season will pan out. Heck, no one can.

But, one thing is for sure. This group is confident they can be quite a bit better than their 6-16 mark a season ago.

That confidence, plus a more normal season with non-conference games and fuller arenas, make for better vibes all around.

"We have a lot of returners and some new ones that we've added that we feel really good about," said Whitaker. "More normal this year, which is obviously huge, when you practice and prep and play live and not be quarantined."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613105633839.jpeg" alt="The Missouri Western women's basketball teams rings the victory bell following their win over Missouri Southern at the MWSU Fieldhouse this past February. Photo courtesy of GoGriffons.com." />
 <figcaption>The Missouri Western women's basketball teams rings the victory bell following their win over Missouri Southern at the MWSU Fieldhouse this past February. Photo courtesy of GoGriffons.com.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Missouri Western basketball season officially gets underway on Thursday evening in St. Joseph, as the Griffon women host Peru State in an exhibition.Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. with coverage starting at 5:30 on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3).The ceiling for this Griffons team is very high. They went 6-16 last season, but Missouri Western returns six of their top eight scorers from last year, while also adding three transfers and four new freshmen.Third-year head coach Candi Whitaker knows this team is still young, but she also knows they have a lot to prove."I'm really excited about the pieces we've added, and I'm really excited about the progress our young players made throughout last year and in this offseason," Whitaker said. "Looking forward to evolving as a unit and a team and seeing how good we can get."Missouri Western had six freshmen on the team last year. All of them played, and most of them saw significant minutes."We relied on them so heavily," Whitaker said of her freshmen last season. "Sometimes, I would look up and there'd be four or five of them on the floor, which was a struggle at times. But, you saw their evolution throughout the year, and by January and February, they were playing at a much higher level."After a 2-1 start, Missouri Western lost seven straight. In mid-February, the Griffons went on a three-game winning streak, but lost their last five games to end the year.Those last five losses, however, were all by 10 points or less. Two of those were by single digits against teams ranked in the top 15 nationally."We weren't ready early," Whitaker said of last year. "But, we kept getting better. We kept coming to practice. They had great attitudes and because of that, they turned a corner. We didn't win those games late, but we were in all of them, within one possession and a chance to win."Youth, is still, the name of the game for Missouri Western. Nine of the 16 players on this year's roster are freshmen. Four of them are brand new, but five of them are back from last year, and did not lose a season of eligibility due to COVID-19.There are five players listed as freshmen, but they're five players who all have significant playing experience."We still are a young team," Whitaker admitted. "But, it's been fun to watch progress for our, I don't know what to call them, experienced freshmen."Sophomore Brionna Budgets is also a key returner. A transfer from Central Arkansas, Budgets led the Griffons last year with 8.4 points per game, including 25 made three-pointers.Senior Mychaell Gray is also back after contributing 6.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per contest last year. Another senior who's back is Corbyn Cunningham - a first-team all-MIAA forward, who missed all but three games last year due to injury.Playing in the final three games, Cunningham scored 16 points and managed 12 rebounds after averaging 15.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in 2019-20."She's just naturally very talented," Whitaker said of Cunningham. "Those games she played in last year, she had maybe three practices prior. She was in terrible shape, but for her to be able to do that in such a short amount of time really speaks to Corbyn's ability."So, that's who's coming back. But, there are several newcomers looking to make an impact, too. Guard, graduate student and St. Joseph native Jaelyn Haggard, for one.<a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/d8894c5b-0148-45f8-a9c0-242b6b37b4f4">The Central alum announced last spring</a> that she would use her extra year of eligibility to play at Missouri Western, where she got accepted into the University's&nbsp;Physical Therapist Assistant Program.Haggard left Northwest Missouri State after four years, making 256 three-pointers - the most in Bearcat women’s history.&nbsp; She's also third all-time at Northwest in free throw percentage, shooting 82.8 percent for her career. "She's very familiar with this league," Cunningham said. "Tremendous motor, shooter. She's quick. I think she has a lot of basketball left in her. Excited to have her."The Griffons also added Trinity Knapp - a transfer from Division I Missouri State who played in 12 total games over two seasons there. Also new is Connie Clark - a junior guard who came in after two fruitful years in the junior college ranks.Clark averaged 9.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.7 steals per game in the 2020-21 season at Shelton State Community College in Alabama."When you sign and recruit a transfer there needs to be a fit and a need, and all three of them were that," Whitaker noted.With a core of her 'experienced freshmen,' three veteran transfers, four true freshmen and two new grad assistant coaches, Whitaker can't exactly know how this season will pan out. Heck, no one can.But, one thing is for sure. This group is confident they can be quite a bit better than their 6-16 mark a season ago.That confidence, plus a more normal season with non-conference games and fuller arenas, make for better vibes all around."We have a lot of returners and some new ones that we've added that we feel really good about," said Whitaker. "More normal this year, which is obviously huge, when you practice and prep and play live and not be quarantined."<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Missouri-Western-coaches-luncheon---102521-e19daua" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Missouri Western women's basketball tips off season with Peru State exhibition

The Savannah volleyball team rallied after getting dominated in the first set, but the Savages got off to a slow start in the fifth set and No. 1 seed Smithville (26-5-5) topped Savannah 3-2 in the Class 4 District 16 championship at Benton High School Tuesday.

Obviously not the desired outcome for No. 2 seed Savannah, but the Savages can look back on this season with their heads held high, getting the most wins in a single season since 2015.

"It's awesome that they stuck around," said first-year Savannah head coach Marina Atkins said. "Everyone bought in and this is what happened. So, it's a huge accomplishment. Tough loss, it is a tough loss, but I couldn't have done it without our four seniors. They led well, and they worked well together as a team, and they set that tone for the program."

Smithville, which won its first district title in volleyball since 2018, raced out to a 6-1 start in the first set, and never trailed, winning 25-15 to lead off.

Savannah (22-11-2) returned the favor in the second set, getting off to a 6-1 start themselves and weathering a late run from the Warriors to take the second 25-21.

The third set was back and forth throughout, but it was Smithville that went on a 4-0 run to end the set, breaking a 21-21 tie to win the third, 25-21.

Once again, the Savages hit back. Savannah took a 19-12 lead in the fourth, thanks to a 7-0 run, and they tied the match 2-2 with a 25-17 victory.

Smithville set the tone right away in the fifth, jumping out to a 6-2 lead.&nbsp; Savannah narrowed the gap, trailing 8-7 and forcing a Warriors timeout, but that's as close as the Savages would come in the fifth, as Smithville closed it out 15-9.

"Honestly, we kind of got stuck in a hole," Atkins said of the final set. "Then, we couldn't quite get out of it. But, the girls worked hard. We did. We battled back, we worked hard. It's just...sometimes you get stuck in a hole and a little rut and it's hard to get out of that. As young players, that's just something that comes with experience."

Sophomore outside hitter Rhyan Schrick led the Savages with 11 kills, while senior outside hitter Alexcia Jones finished an outstanding season with 10 kills.

Sophomore Addy Minton came off the bench and had a solid match, finishing with nine kills. Junior Sailor Bodenhausen finished with seven kills and two blocks.

Senior middle Isabella Reynolds was at times dominant for Smithville, knocking down a match-high 16 kills while also getting six blocks.

The Warriors came up with 12 blocks compared to Savannah's five. Smithville also had seven ace serves compared to just two by the Savages.

Again, not the desired outcome, but after getting swept by Smithville to open the season on August 30, Coach Atkins was happy to give one of the best teams in Class 4 a run for their money in the district title.

"They come out here and at least make them work for this, I couldn't have asked for a better type of loss," Atkins said. "Rather than coming out and just handing it to them. They had to at least work for it."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635305029531.jpeg" alt="Savannah's Sailor Bodenhausen (10) tries to lob a ball over Smithville blockers in Tuesday's Class 4 District 16 title at Benton High School. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Savannah's Sailor Bodenhausen (10) tries to lob a ball over Smithville blockers in Tuesday's Class 4 District 16 title at Benton High School. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Savannah volleyball team rallied after getting dominated in the first set, but the Savages got off to a slow start in the fifth set and No. 1 seed Smithville (26-5-5) topped Savannah 3-2 in the Class 4 District 16 championship at Benton High School Tuesday.Obviously not the desired outcome for No. 2 seed Savannah, but the Savages can look back on this season with their heads held high, getting the most wins in a single season since 2015."It's awesome that they stuck around," said first-year Savannah head coach Marina Atkins said. "Everyone bought in and this is what happened. So, it's a huge accomplishment. Tough loss, it is a tough loss, but I couldn't have done it without our four seniors. They led well, and they worked well together as a team, and they set that tone for the program."Smithville, which won its first district title in volleyball since 2018, raced out to a 6-1 start in the first set, and never trailed, winning 25-15 to lead off.Savannah (22-11-2) returned the favor in the second set, getting off to a 6-1 start themselves and weathering a late run from the Warriors to take the second 25-21.The third set was back and forth throughout, but it was Smithville that went on a 4-0 run to end the set, breaking a 21-21 tie to win the third, 25-21.Once again, the Savages hit back. Savannah took a 19-12 lead in the fourth, thanks to a 7-0 run, and they tied the match 2-2 with a 25-17 victory.Smithville set the tone right away in the fifth, jumping out to a 6-2 lead.&nbsp; Savannah narrowed the gap, trailing 8-7 and forcing a Warriors timeout, but that's as close as the Savages would come in the fifth, as Smithville closed it out 15-9."Honestly, we kind of got stuck in a hole," Atkins said of the final set. "Then, we couldn't quite get out of it. But, the girls worked hard. We did. We battled back, we worked hard. It's just...sometimes you get stuck in a hole and a little rut and it's hard to get out of that. As young players, that's just something that comes with experience."Sophomore outside hitter Rhyan Schrick led the Savages with 11 kills, while senior outside hitter Alexcia Jones finished an outstanding season with 10 kills.Sophomore Addy Minton came off the bench and had a solid match, finishing with nine kills. Junior Sailor Bodenhausen finished with seven kills and two blocks.Senior middle Isabella Reynolds was at times dominant for Smithville, knocking down a match-high 16 kills while also getting six blocks.The Warriors came up with 12 blocks compared to Savannah's five. Smithville also had seven ace serves compared to just two by the Savages.Again, not the desired outcome, but after getting swept by Smithville to open the season on August 30, Coach Atkins was happy to give one of the best teams in Class 4 a run for their money in the district title."They come out here and at least make them work for this, I couldn't have asked for a better type of loss," Atkins said. "Rather than coming out and just handing it to them. They had to at least work for it."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635305154564.jpeg" alt="Rhyan Schrick serves the ball." />
 <figcaption>Rhyan Schrick serves the ball.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635305224348.jpeg" alt="Senior Ella Jordan (15) sets the ball in Tuesday's match." />
 <figcaption>Senior Ella Jordan (15) sets the ball in Tuesday's match.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Savannah battles hard, falls short against No. 1 seed Smithville in district title Tuesday

The No. 1 seed Smithville outlasted Benton in a physical, four-set match, while No. 2 seed Savannah capitalized on a fast start to beat No.&nbsp; 3 seed Lafayette, 3-1, on Monday night in the Class 4 District 16 semifinals at Benton High School.

Smithville 3-1 (25-20, 22-25, 25-20, 25-22)

The Warriors (25-5-5) were in a close battle with host school and No. 4 seed Benton throughout. The Cardinals (16-15-1) were able to take the second set, but never had a lead in the third.

The fourth set was up for grabs down the stretch, but Smithville was able to score the final couple of points to survive and advance to the district championship on Tuesday night at 6.

Smithville's Rylee Thompson led the way with 10 kills, but Benton senior Alyia Stillman, who just last week reached 1,000 career kills herself, finished with a match-high 17 kills, six aces and two blocks.

Fellow Benton senior Gabrielle Moulden had 11 kills and a pair of blocks. Sophomore Hollie Peters had nine kills.

Savannah 3-1 (25-14, 25-12, 23-25, 25-16)

The Savages (22-10-2) cruised through the first two sets, getting off to a 12-3 start in the first and a 12-1 start in the second.

Lafayette (15-19) flipped the script in the third, getting out to a 13-6 start themselves and hanging on for a narrow victory to avoid being swept.

The fourth set started out 5-5, but a 7-0 run propelled Savannah to a nice lead halfway through, and the Savages were able to hold the Irish down the rest of the way to punch their ticket into Tuesday's district title.

"Third set, I think we just got comfortable and played safe," Savannah head coach Marina Atkins said. "There toward the end, they flipped a switch and the girls were like, 'Yeah we've had enough.' So, then we took that energy from the third into the fourth."

Senior Alexcia Jones led Savannah with 11 kills, while junior Sailor Bodenhausen had eight. Sophomore Rhyan Shrick was right behind with seven kills of her own.

"It helps that our offense is pretty even," Atkins said. "I mean, we do have a couple of hitters who we trust to put the ball away at times. But, overall, we have front row players who can put the ball away and even backrow players that we can set, so they can just put it over."

Junior Bailey Flanagan led Lafayette with 11 kills.

Savannah, seeking its first district title in volleyball since 2015, will face Smithville in the Class 4 District 16 championship on Tuesday night at 6 at Benton High School.

The Warriors beat Savannah 3-0 back on August 30 - the first match of the season for both teams.

"They were our first game of the season," Atkins recalled. "So, we're coming out hungry and we're ready to play them. We're ready to win."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635221801639.jpeg" alt="Savannah's Rhyan Schrick (top) sets a ball during the Savage's 3-1 win over Lafayette on Monday in a Class 4 District 16 semifinal. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Savannah's Rhyan Schrick (top) sets a ball during the Savage's 3-1 win over Lafayette on Monday in a Class 4 District 16 semifinal. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe No. 1 seed Smithville outlasted Benton in a physical, four-set match, while No. 2 seed Savannah capitalized on a fast start to beat No.&nbsp; 3 seed Lafayette, 3-1, on Monday night in the Class 4 District 16 semifinals at Benton High School.Smithville 3-1 (25-20, 22-25, 25-20, 25-22)The Warriors (25-5-5) were in a close battle with host school and No. 4 seed Benton throughout. The Cardinals (16-15-1) were able to take the second set, but never had a lead in the third.The fourth set was up for grabs down the stretch, but Smithville was able to score the final couple of points to survive and advance to the district championship on Tuesday night at 6.Smithville's Rylee Thompson led the way with 10 kills, but Benton senior Alyia Stillman, who just last week reached 1,000 career kills herself, finished with a match-high 17 kills, six aces and two blocks.Fellow Benton senior Gabrielle Moulden had 11 kills and a pair of blocks. Sophomore Hollie Peters had nine kills.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635221915571.jpeg" alt="Benton's Alyia Stillman (4) serves while head coach Lauryn Doolan looks on during Monday's match. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Benton's Alyia Stillman (4) serves while head coach Lauryn Doolan looks on during Monday's match. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>Savannah 3-1 (25-14, 25-12, 23-25, 25-16)The Savages (22-10-2) cruised through the first two sets, getting off to a 12-3 start in the first and a 12-1 start in the second.Lafayette (15-19) flipped the script in the third, getting out to a 13-6 start themselves and hanging on for a narrow victory to avoid being swept.The fourth set started out 5-5, but a 7-0 run propelled Savannah to a nice lead halfway through, and the Savages were able to hold the Irish down the rest of the way to punch their ticket into Tuesday's district title."Third set, I think we just got comfortable and played safe," Savannah head coach Marina Atkins said. "There toward the end, they flipped a switch and the girls were like, 'Yeah we've had enough.' So, then we took that energy from the third into the fourth."Senior Alexcia Jones led Savannah with 11 kills, while junior Sailor Bodenhausen had eight. Sophomore Rhyan Shrick was right behind with seven kills of her own."It helps that our offense is pretty even," Atkins said. "I mean, we do have a couple of hitters who we trust to put the ball away at times. But, overall, we have front row players who can put the ball away and even backrow players that we can set, so they can just put it over."Junior Bailey Flanagan led Lafayette with 11 kills.Savannah, seeking its first district title in volleyball since 2015, will face Smithville in the Class 4 District 16 championship on Tuesday night at 6 at Benton High School.The Warriors beat Savannah 3-0 back on August 30 - the first match of the season for both teams."They were our first game of the season," Atkins recalled. "So, we're coming out hungry and we're ready to play them. We're ready to win."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635221958510.jpeg" alt="Savannah's Alexcia Jones prepares to serve." />
 <figcaption>Savannah's Alexcia Jones prepares to serve.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Smithville outlasts Benton, Savannah beats Lafayette in district semis

(AP) -&nbsp;Ryan Tannehill threw for 270 yards and a touchdown, and he also ran for a score, as the Tennessee Titans routed the Kansas City Chiefs 27-3 Sunday for their fifth win in six games.

This also was the second victory in six days for the Titans over teams that played for the AFC championship in January. They edged Buffalo 34-31 on Monday night.

The Titans (5-2) followed that by simply dominating the two-time defending AFC champions. Tennessee jumped out to a 27-0 halftime lead, and never looked back.

"They made more plays than we did," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said after. "Particularly, the first few series there. I've seen our guys do it and make the plays. We're just not doing it now. But, I trust those things will get taken care of on both sides of the ball, and special teams."

The Chiefs (3-4) now have lost two of three and dropped to 1-4 in the AFC this season.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes takes the blame for his two turnovers Sunday, saying he's trying too hard to make something happen.

"Today, it was probably me just pressing a little bit too early in the game," Mahomes said. "Then, we got down and then we're in that kind of mode where we're kind of no huddle. Which, you don't want to be in in the NFL. You can execute a little bit, but it's hard to sustain drives. So, I have to be better early in games so we don't get behind like we did."

Either way, Kansas City is left with a big turnover problem.

The Chiefs turned the ball over three times Sunday. The Titans turned a Mahomes interception and Mahomes fumble into 10 points late in the first half.

Kansas City has one more turnover already this season than the 16 giveaways in all of 2020. Mahomes has also been intercepted in six straight games - the longest stretch in his career.

"I trust the players, the locker room and the coaches," Reid said. "We have to make sure we hang together and fix the problems. The easy way out is not doing that. We need to hang together."

The Chiefs are back home to host the New York Giants (2-5) on Monday night football next week. Kick off is set for 7:15 central. The game will be carried on KFEQ Radio (680 AM,, 95.3 FM) and Q Country 92.7 FM in St. Joseph.

The Giants topped Carolina, 25-3, on Sunday.

By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph Post(AP) -&nbsp;Ryan Tannehill threw for 270 yards and a touchdown, and he also ran for a score, as the Tennessee Titans routed the Kansas City Chiefs 27-3 Sunday for their fifth win in six games.This also was the second victory in six days for the Titans over teams that played for the AFC championship in January. They edged Buffalo 34-31 on Monday night.The Titans (5-2) followed that by simply dominating the two-time defending AFC champions. Tennessee jumped out to a 27-0 halftime lead, and never looked back."They made more plays than we did," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said after. "Particularly, the first few series there. I've seen our guys do it and make the plays. We're just not doing it now. But, I trust those things will get taken care of on both sides of the ball, and special teams."The Chiefs (3-4) now have lost two of three and dropped to 1-4 in the AFC this season.Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes takes the blame for his two turnovers Sunday, saying he's trying too hard to make something happen."Today, it was probably me just pressing a little bit too early in the game," Mahomes said. "Then, we got down and then we're in that kind of mode where we're kind of no huddle. Which, you don't want to be in in the NFL. You can execute a little bit, but it's hard to sustain drives. So, I have to be better early in games so we don't get behind like we did."Either way, Kansas City is left with a big turnover problem.The Chiefs turned the ball over three times Sunday. The Titans turned a Mahomes interception and Mahomes fumble into 10 points late in the first half.Kansas City has one more turnover already this season than the 16 giveaways in all of 2020. Mahomes has also been intercepted in six straight games - the longest stretch in his career."I trust the players, the locker room and the coaches," Reid said. "We have to make sure we hang together and fix the problems. The easy way out is not doing that. We need to hang together."The Chiefs are back home to host the New York Giants (2-5) on Monday night football next week. Kick off is set for 7:15 central. The game will be carried on KFEQ Radio (680 AM,, 95.3 FM) and Q Country 92.7 FM in St. Joseph.The Giants topped Carolina, 25-3, on Sunday.

Titans build big lead early, dominate Chiefs Sunday

Pittsburg State took the opening kickoff back 98 yards for a touchdown and scored 17 points in the second quarter to build a 24-0 halftime lead and eventually beat Missouri Western 34-14 at Spratt Stadium Saturday.

After falling behind 7-0 in the first 13 seconds of the game, Missouri Western (3-5) strung together three consecutive drives of eight plays or more in the first half.

The Griffons got into Pitt State territory on all three of those drives. Yet, Missouri Western had to punt it away on each of those drives. Pitt State's offense then came alive, scoring on three straight drives to go up 24-0 late in the second quarter.

"It's like a trend right now," Missouri Western head football coach Matt Williamson said. "We're coming out and flatlining in the first half. Very stagnant offensively. Not doing much at all. It's disheartening quite a bit. It's tough to see."

Missouri Western got the ball to start the second half, but had to punt it away for a sixth straight possession.

Pitt State scored a field goal on their first drive of the second half to go up 27-0 with 9:28 to go in the third.

After that, Missouri Western made a change at quarterback, putting in backup Reagan Jones in place of Anthony Vespo, and Jones helped engineer a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown run from Shen Butler-Lawson, Jr., making it a 27-7 ballgame with 4:48 remaining in the third.

Pittsburg State strung together another long drive of their own after that, scoring on the second play of the fourth quarter to go up 34-7 with 14:51 to play.&nbsp;

The Gorillas had a streak of five consecutive scoring drives, spanning from the second to the fourth quarter. Three of those drives ended in touchdown, and two in field goal.

Pitt State quarterback Mak Sexton was efficient throughout, completing 19-of-29 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Tyler Adkins ran hard throughout the game, finishing with 85 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown.

The Griffons were able to finally hit back offensively in the fourth quarter. After a solid kick return by Trey Vaval set Missouri Western up at midfield, Jones found receiver Cooper Burton on a 34-yard catch, eventually setting up an eight-yard touchdown run by Jones. The point-after made the score 34-14 with 12:44 to play.

Jones finished the game 7-of-11 through the air for 142 yards passing, while also rushing for 77 yards on eight carries and the touchdown, giving him 219 all-purpose yards.

Burton finished with six catches for a season-high 135 yards receiving.

"You've got a kid that comes in who starts playing really well in the second half and sparks (the offense) and gets things going," Williamson said of Jones. "Maybe we'll look at that, I don't know. We have to get all of our playmakers the ball."

Missouri Western's defense got a quick, and much needed three-and-out, giving the Griffons the ball back down three scores with still 10:58 to go.

For a third straight drive, the Griffons found rhythm on offense. A 36-yard completion to Burton, followed by a 12-yard rush by Brandon Hall, gave Missouri Western first-and-goal at the 9.

The Griffons got to the six, and on 4th down, Jones threw across his body to the back of the end zone looking for Burton, but the pass was off target, and Pittsburg State took over on downs at their own six with 8:44 to go.

The Gorillas were able to run six minutes off the clock, before attempting a 31-yard field goal with 2:12 to go. The field goal attempt was blocked by Sam Webb, and the loose ball was recovered by Tariq Stewart.

With just under two minutes left, Jones got the Griffons into Pitt State territory again, but an interception in the end zone with under a minute left ended the game.

Missouri Western goes back on the road Saturday to face Missouri Southern (3-5). The Lions lost at Emporia State 24-21 on Saturday.

By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostPittsburg State took the opening kickoff back 98 yards for a touchdown and scored 17 points in the second quarter to build a 24-0 halftime lead and eventually beat Missouri Western 34-14 at Spratt Stadium Saturday.After falling behind 7-0 in the first 13 seconds of the game, Missouri Western (3-5) strung together three consecutive drives of eight plays or more in the first half.The Griffons got into Pitt State territory on all three of those drives. Yet, Missouri Western had to punt it away on each of those drives. Pitt State's offense then came alive, scoring on three straight drives to go up 24-0 late in the second quarter."It's like a trend right now," Missouri Western head football coach Matt Williamson said. "We're coming out and flatlining in the first half. Very stagnant offensively. Not doing much at all. It's disheartening quite a bit. It's tough to see."Missouri Western got the ball to start the second half, but had to punt it away for a sixth straight possession.Pitt State scored a field goal on their first drive of the second half to go up 27-0 with 9:28 to go in the third.After that, Missouri Western made a change at quarterback, putting in backup Reagan Jones in place of Anthony Vespo, and Jones helped engineer a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown run from Shen Butler-Lawson, Jr., making it a 27-7 ballgame with 4:48 remaining in the third.Pittsburg State strung together another long drive of their own after that, scoring on the second play of the fourth quarter to go up 34-7 with 14:51 to play.&nbsp;The Gorillas had a streak of five consecutive scoring drives, spanning from the second to the fourth quarter. Three of those drives ended in touchdown, and two in field goal.Pitt State quarterback Mak Sexton was efficient throughout, completing 19-of-29 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Tyler Adkins ran hard throughout the game, finishing with 85 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown.The Griffons were able to finally hit back offensively in the fourth quarter. After a solid kick return by Trey Vaval set Missouri Western up at midfield, Jones found receiver Cooper Burton on a 34-yard catch, eventually setting up an eight-yard touchdown run by Jones. The point-after made the score 34-14 with 12:44 to play.Jones finished the game 7-of-11 through the air for 142 yards passing, while also rushing for 77 yards on eight carries and the touchdown, giving him 219 all-purpose yards.Burton finished with six catches for a season-high 135 yards receiving."You've got a kid that comes in who starts playing really well in the second half and sparks (the offense) and gets things going," Williamson said of Jones. "Maybe we'll look at that, I don't know. We have to get all of our playmakers the ball."Missouri Western's defense got a quick, and much needed three-and-out, giving the Griffons the ball back down three scores with still 10:58 to go.For a third straight drive, the Griffons found rhythm on offense. A 36-yard completion to Burton, followed by a 12-yard rush by Brandon Hall, gave Missouri Western first-and-goal at the 9.The Griffons got to the six, and on 4th down, Jones threw across his body to the back of the end zone looking for Burton, but the pass was off target, and Pittsburg State took over on downs at their own six with 8:44 to go.The Gorillas were able to run six minutes off the clock, before attempting a 31-yard field goal with 2:12 to go. The field goal attempt was blocked by Sam Webb, and the loose ball was recovered by Tariq Stewart.With just under two minutes left, Jones got the Griffons into Pitt State territory again, but an interception in the end zone with under a minute left ended the game.Missouri Western goes back on the road Saturday to face Missouri Southern (3-5). The Lions lost at Emporia State 24-21 on Saturday.<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Missouri-Westerns-Matt-Williamson-postgame-e197iqo" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Pittsburg State uses big second quarter, gets key stop late in win over Griffons Saturday

We have reached the end of the regular season in high school football with week 9 in Missouri and week 8 in Kansas. Here's a look at all of the area matchups and finals from Friday night. We now await district pairings!&nbsp;

MEC: Chillicothe 50 (6-3)&nbsp;Benton 21 (1-8) - FINAL

#4 St. Pius X 35 (8-1)&nbsp;Savannah 0 (3-6) - FINAL

Marshall 30 (2-6) Cameron 0 (2-7) - FINAL

Maryville 37 (5-4)&nbsp;Lafayette 6 (6-3) - FINAL

#8 Bishop LeBlond 32 (8-1) Northwest (Hughesville) 30 (5-4) - FINAL - Eagles overcome a 22-6 halftime deficit.

KCI: #2 Mid-Buchanan 28 (9-0) #8 West Platte 12 (7-2) - FINAL - The Dragons win back-to-back KCI Conference titles and finish with back-to-back undefeated regular seasons.

Lathrop 51 (3-6)&nbsp;Plattsburg 7 (1-8) - FINAL - Third straight win for the Mules, and they win the 100th meeting with Plattsburg.

#5 East Buchanan 57 (8-1) North Platte 8 (0-9) - FINAL

GRC Albany 84 (4-5)&nbsp;Pattonsburg 0 (3-6) - FINAL

North Andrew 68 (4-4) @ Southwest Livingston 20 (3-6) - FINAL

#6 King City 48 (7-2) St. Joseph Christian 0 (0-9) - FINAL

#1 Worth County 76 (9-0)&nbsp;#5 Stanberry 16 (5-3) - FINAL

Milan 28 (5-4)&nbsp;Maysville 12 (3-6) - FINAL

Gallatin 48 (7-2) Princeton 8 (0-9) - FINAL - Bulldogs win their fifth straight.

Putnam County 20 (3-6)&nbsp;Polo 16 (6-3) - FINAL

South Harrison 25 (5-4)&nbsp;Trenton 24 (4-5) - FINAL OT

275 DeKalb 52 (1-8)&nbsp;Stewartsville-Osborn 38 (1-7) - FINAL

#9 South Holt 22 (7-2) Nodaway Valley 6 (2-7) - FINAL - The Knights get their sixth straight win.

Rock Port 26 (6-3)&nbsp;Mound City 20 (4-5) - FINAL - Micah Makings had a two-yard winning TD with two seconds left.

Platte Valley 28 (7-2)&nbsp;#3 East Atchison 26 (8-1) - FINAL

Greater KC Suburban Conference #7 Park Hill South 51 (9-0) St. Joseph Central 27 (1-8) - FINAL (Thursday)

#4 Platte County 39 (7-2)&nbsp;Lansing, KS 3 (2-6) - FINAL

Kansas games: Atchison 21 (7-1) Washington 20 (3-4) - FINAL

Troy 40 (4-4)&nbsp;Horton 12 (0-8) - FINAL

Burlingame 36 (5-2)&nbsp;Doniphan West 28 (3-5) - FINAL OT

Maur Hill-Prep Mount Academy 24 (3-4)&nbsp;Riverside 21 (0-8) - FINAL

More scores<a href="https://www.680kfeq.com/scoreboard/">&nbsp;can be found here</a>.

Tune into KFEQ again tonight for this season's final episode of 'Friday Night Lights' from 8-10 p.m.! We'll have two hours of scores, interviews, analysis and more! Listen on 680 AM, 95.3 FM, 680kfeq.com and the KFEQ mobile app.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634935278702.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostWe have reached the end of the regular season in high school football with week 9 in Missouri and week 8 in Kansas. Here's a look at all of the area matchups and finals from Friday night. We now await district pairings!&nbsp; MEC: Chillicothe 50 (6-3)&nbsp;Benton 21 (1-8) - FINAL#4 St. Pius X 35 (8-1)&nbsp;Savannah 0 (3-6) - FINALMarshall 30 (2-6) Cameron 0 (2-7) - FINALMaryville 37 (5-4)&nbsp;Lafayette 6 (6-3) - FINAL#8 Bishop LeBlond 32 (8-1) Northwest (Hughesville) 30 (5-4) - FINAL - Eagles overcome a 22-6 halftime deficit.<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/LeBlond-head-football-coach-Chuck-Davis-e196fgr" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>KCI: #2 Mid-Buchanan 28 (9-0) #8 West Platte 12 (7-2) - FINAL - The Dragons win back-to-back KCI Conference titles and finish with back-to-back undefeated regular seasons.<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Mid-Buchanan-coach-Aaron-Fritz-e196f9t" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>Lathrop 51 (3-6)&nbsp;Plattsburg 7 (1-8) - FINAL - Third straight win for the Mules, and they win the 100th meeting with Plattsburg.#5 East Buchanan 57 (8-1) North Platte 8 (0-9) - FINAL<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/East-Buchanan-coach-Dan-Ritter-e196fd2" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>Hamilton 41 (6-3) Lawson 0 (2-7) - FINAL<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Hamilton-head-coach-Alexander-Lloyd-e196fet" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>GRC Albany 84 (4-5)&nbsp;Pattonsburg 0 (3-6) - FINALNorth Andrew 68 (4-4) @ Southwest Livingston 20 (3-6) - FINAL#6 King City 48 (7-2) St. Joseph Christian 0 (0-9) - FINAL#1 Worth County 76 (9-0)&nbsp;#5 Stanberry 16 (5-3) - FINALMilan 28 (5-4)&nbsp;Maysville 12 (3-6) - FINALGallatin 48 (7-2) Princeton 8 (0-9) - FINAL - Bulldogs win their fifth straight.Putnam County 20 (3-6)&nbsp;Polo 16 (6-3) - FINALSouth Harrison 25 (5-4)&nbsp;Trenton 24 (4-5) - FINAL OT275 DeKalb 52 (1-8)&nbsp;Stewartsville-Osborn 38 (1-7) - FINAL<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/DeKalb-head-coach-Kaleb-Wardlow-e196fii" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>#9 South Holt 22 (7-2) Nodaway Valley 6 (2-7) - FINAL - The Knights get their sixth straight win.<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/South-Holt-head-coach-Josh-Petersen-e196fk8" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>Rock Port 26 (6-3)&nbsp;Mound City 20 (4-5) - FINAL - Micah Makings had a two-yard winning TD with two seconds left.Platte Valley 28 (7-2)&nbsp;#3 East Atchison 26 (8-1) - FINALGreater KC Suburban Conference #7 Park Hill South 51 (9-0) St. Joseph Central 27 (1-8) - FINAL (Thursday)#4 Platte County 39 (7-2)&nbsp;Lansing, KS 3 (2-6) - FINALKansas games: Atchison 21 (7-1) Washington 20 (3-4) - FINALTroy 40 (4-4)&nbsp;Horton 12 (0-8) - FINALBurlingame 36 (5-2)&nbsp;Doniphan West 28 (3-5) - FINAL OTMaur Hill-Prep Mount Academy 24 (3-4)&nbsp;Riverside 21 (0-8) - FINALHiawatha (4-3) @ Sabetha (3-4) - missingMore scores<a href="https://www.680kfeq.com/scoreboard/">&nbsp;can be found here</a>.Tune into KFEQ again tonight for this season's final episode of 'Friday Night Lights' from 8-10 p.m.! We'll have two hours of scores, interviews, analysis and more! Listen on 680 AM, 95.3 FM, 680kfeq.com and the KFEQ mobile app.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630711670029.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

KFEQ/St. Joseph Post area football matchups and scoreboard - October 22, 2021

Bishop LeBlond had a historic run in girls' tennis in 2020, qualifying as a team for state and finishing in the top four for the first time since 2009.

With a healthy crop of returning talent, along with two new freshmen, the Eagles (12-3) felt confident they could do it again. Lo and behold, LeBlond is headed back to Springfield for the team semifinals.

"It really means a lot," said senior Lily Sullivan. "We've put a lot of work into this year and this season to push and win every match like every match counted. So, we really deserve to be here and I think we can pull through."

LeBlond won their <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/d713746e-4cc9-4421-91cb-0129e6883316">second straight district title on October 6</a>, defeating Savannah 5-0.

They went onto beat Marshall in sectionals, 5-3, and then Harrisonville, 5-0, in quarterfinals on Oct. 12, putting them in the Final Four for a second consecutive season, and for the first time under new head coach Jackson Gwinn, who's also a professional tennis instructor at Genesis St. Joseph.

"I was just really impressed with how the girls fought to keep going and keep progressing through all of it," Gwinn said. "We had a couple close matches going through sectionals and everything. It just made it really worthwhile getting there."

LeBlond was represented in the individual state tennis tournament in doubles last Friday by senior Peyton Netten and sophomore Emily Weddle. They lost in the sectional round to&nbsp;Mount Vernon's Brooke Loftus and Jessah Anderson, 6-4, 6-3, but Weddle says getting that postseason experience again as an individual was valuable.

Weddle qualified for the individual state tournament in singles as a freshman last season, too. She says going to state with her entire team helps relieve some of the pressure.

"But, going into (state) as a team, you have a lot more help," she said. "So, it's more relieving."

Another young player who had a big season for LeBlond is freshman Iris Ideker, who finished second in singles at districts and made it to the Class 1 Section 8 meet before getting eliminated 6-2, 6-0 by Marshall's Karsyn King.

"It was super fun," Ideker said. "I didn't expect to make it that far as a freshman."

LeBlond has 10 players on its current roster that were part of last season's fourth place finish at state - the ninth top four finish for Eagles' girls tennis at state in school history.

Gwinn had previously worked with about half of those 10 girls as their tennis instructor at Genesis. That made his first season as their varsity coach in 2021 that much smoother.

"About half of the team already knew me," Gwinn explained. "So, they were not afraid to ask me questions and joke around with me a little bit. So, that helped a lot and made it a bit of a lighter mood going into it. So, I appreciated that personally."

The Eagles will first face Westminster Christian Academy (12-7) on Friday morning at 9 a.m. The winner will face either Kennett (19-0) or Bolivar (16-6) in the championship at 3 p.m.

The third place match will also take place Friday at 3 p.m.

As LeBlond looks to win its first state title in girls' tennis since 1979, Sullivan is confident that her and the four other seniors on the team can go out on top - as long as they continue on the path they've been on.

"We have a lot of confidence," she said. "We just need to put our minds to it and not get in our heads and worry too much, because we can do whatever we put our minds to. Like, if we try hard enough, we can do it. Nothing is impossible."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634845804885.jpeg" alt="Murphy King. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Murphy King. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostBishop LeBlond had a historic run in girls' tennis in 2020, qualifying as a team for state and finishing in the top four for the first time since 2009.With a healthy crop of returning talent, along with two new freshmen, the Eagles (12-3) felt confident they could do it again. Lo and behold, LeBlond is headed back to Springfield for the team semifinals."It really means a lot," said senior Lily Sullivan. "We've put a lot of work into this year and this season to push and win every match like every match counted. So, we really deserve to be here and I think we can pull through."LeBlond won their <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/d713746e-4cc9-4421-91cb-0129e6883316">second straight district title on October 6</a>, defeating Savannah 5-0.They went onto beat Marshall in sectionals, 5-3, and then Harrisonville, 5-0, in quarterfinals on Oct. 12, putting them in the Final Four for a second consecutive season, and for the first time under new head coach Jackson Gwinn, who's also a professional tennis instructor at Genesis St. Joseph."I was just really impressed with how the girls fought to keep going and keep progressing through all of it," Gwinn said. "We had a couple close matches going through sectionals and everything. It just made it really worthwhile getting there."LeBlond was represented in the individual state tennis tournament in doubles last Friday by senior Peyton Netten and sophomore Emily Weddle. They lost in the sectional round to&nbsp;Mount Vernon's Brooke Loftus and Jessah Anderson, 6-4, 6-3, but Weddle says getting that postseason experience again as an individual was valuable.Weddle qualified for the individual state tournament in singles as a freshman last season, too. She says going to state with her entire team helps relieve some of the pressure."But, going into (state) as a team, you have a lot more help," she said. "So, it's more relieving."Another young player who had a big season for LeBlond is freshman Iris Ideker, who finished second in singles at districts and made it to the Class 1 Section 8 meet before getting eliminated 6-2, 6-0 by Marshall's Karsyn King."It was super fun," Ideker said. "I didn't expect to make it that far as a freshman."LeBlond has 10 players on its current roster that were part of last season's fourth place finish at state - the ninth top four finish for Eagles' girls tennis at state in school history.Gwinn had previously worked with about half of those 10 girls as their tennis instructor at Genesis. That made his first season as their varsity coach in 2021 that much smoother."About half of the team already knew me," Gwinn explained. "So, they were not afraid to ask me questions and joke around with me a little bit. So, that helped a lot and made it a bit of a lighter mood going into it. So, I appreciated that personally."The Eagles will first face Westminster Christian Academy (12-7) on Friday morning at 9 a.m. The winner will face either Kennett (19-0) or Bolivar (16-6) in the championship at 3 p.m.The third place match will also take place Friday at 3 p.m.As LeBlond looks to win its first state title in girls' tennis since 1979, Sullivan is confident that her and the four other seniors on the team can go out on top - as long as they continue on the path they've been on."We have a lot of confidence," she said. "We just need to put our minds to it and not get in our heads and worry too much, because we can do whatever we put our minds to. Like, if we try hard enough, we can do it. Nothing is impossible."<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Emily-Weddle-e194c31" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Lily-Sullivan-e194c9r" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Iris-Ideker-e194cet" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Jackson-Gwinn-e194cnl" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633521630943.jpeg" alt="Peyton Netten." />
 <figcaption>Peyton Netten.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634845934025.jpeg" alt="Emily Weddle." />
 <figcaption>Emily Weddle.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

LeBlond girls' tennis heads back to Final Four, looks to build off of last year's run

MAYSVILLE - Maysville got off to a nice start in Wednesday's Class 1 sectional softball game, scoring three runs on three doubles in the first inning.

The No. 2 Wolverines (21-3) scored five runs in the second, five more in the third and a couple more for good measure in the 4th to run rule North Andrew, 15-0, at Lakesite Country Club in Maysville.

"We just showed what this team is capable of," Wolverines coach Ashley Mazurkewycz said. "Our bats were working, our defense was fantastic. It all just came together. It was a fun, fun game."

Maysville blew the game open in the top of the second when sophomore Hailey Lemunyon hit an infield home run to right field, which scored a pair of runs.

 Senior Ashton Willis followed that up three at-bats later with a three-run bomb deep to left, giving Maysville an 8-0 cushion.

The Wolverines scored those first eight runs all with two outs.

After North Andrew went down in order in the bottom of the second, Maysville continued to build its already sizable lead, drawing six walks in the top of the third and scoring an unearned run via error, eventually taking a 13-0 lead.

A two-run homer to left center by senior Ashley Brown in the fourth put Maysville ahead 15-0 and officially into run rule territory.

North Andrew (18-9) got a couple of runners on via walk in the bottom of the fourth, but got nothing across. The Cardinals failed to get a runner to third base in the entire game, and had just one total hit.

Brown, and fellow seniors Claire Catlett, Ashton Willis and Rylie Boyer each scored three runs in the win. Lemunyon scored two runs, while striking out five in a complete game shutout in the circle.

"Oh man, it's exciting," Brown said of her team's performance and season thus far. "Especially since we did this two years ago and the year before that. To come back and do it again my senior year, it's something else that's for sure."

Maysville, who took third at state in 2019 and won the whole thing in 2018, will stay home Saturday to host Pattonsburg in the Class 1 quarterfinal round. First pitch time has yet to be announced.

North Andrew ends the season after winning their first district title since 1991 and a school-record number of wins.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634783692180.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostMAYSVILLE - Maysville got off to a nice start in Wednesday's Class 1 sectional softball game, scoring three runs on three doubles in the first inning.And that was just the start.The No. 2 Wolverines (21-3) scored five runs in the second, five more in the third and a couple more for good measure in the 4th to run rule North Andrew, 15-0, at Lakesite Country Club in Maysville."We just showed what this team is capable of," Wolverines coach Ashley Mazurkewycz said. "Our bats were working, our defense was fantastic. It all just came together. It was a fun, fun game."Maysville blew the game open in the top of the second when sophomore Hailey Lemunyon hit an infield home run to right field, which scored a pair of runs. Senior Ashton Willis followed that up three at-bats later with a three-run bomb deep to left, giving Maysville an 8-0 cushion.The Wolverines scored those first eight runs all with two outs.After North Andrew went down in order in the bottom of the second, Maysville continued to build its already sizable lead, drawing six walks in the top of the third and scoring an unearned run via error, eventually taking a 13-0 lead.A two-run homer to left center by senior Ashley Brown in the fourth put Maysville ahead 15-0 and officially into run rule territory.North Andrew (18-9) got a couple of runners on via walk in the bottom of the fourth, but got nothing across. The Cardinals failed to get a runner to third base in the entire game, and had just one total hit.Brown, and fellow seniors Claire Catlett, Ashton Willis and Rylie Boyer each scored three runs in the win. Lemunyon scored two runs, while striking out five in a complete game shutout in the circle."Oh man, it's exciting," Brown said of her team's performance and season thus far. "Especially since we did this two years ago and the year before that. To come back and do it again my senior year, it's something else that's for sure."Maysville, who took third at state in 2019 and won the whole thing in 2018, will stay home Saturday to host Pattonsburg in the Class 1 quarterfinal round. First pitch time has yet to be announced.North Andrew ends the season after winning their first district title since 1991 and a school-record number of wins.You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Maysville builds early lead, routs North Andrew in sectional softball Wednesday

The girls’ state golf tournaments concluded in all classes Tuesday afternoon, and there are three medalists from the KFEQ/St. Joseph Post area, including a top three finisher in Class 1.

East Buchanan senior Madi Jessen finished third overall, shooting a round-one 88 and round-two 92. She was only eight strokes off the lead and three strokes away from finishing second.

A two-time district champion, Jessen finished fourth at state last year.

The Bulldogs finished 4th out of 9 teams - six shots ahead of 5th place East Atchison. The Maysville girls finished 9th as a team. East Atchison’s Jamie Barnett finished tied for 13th, shooting a 101 and 99.

Savannah’s Mollee Olszowka finished 18th with a first-round 92 and second-round 88. She was only five strokes away from medaling. Benton’s Jaida Cox tied for 46th with rounds of 97 and 108.

St. Joseph Central’s Ali Perry comes home a state medalist, placing 13th with rounds of 82 and 78. She placed 23rd at state the year prior.

Evan Sigars tied for 49th, shooting a score of 90 on each day. Sigars placed 55th at the state meet last season.

Full local results, starting with Class 1 (place, total score)

Jamie Barnett - East Atchison (t-13th, 200)

Hannah Archdekin - East Buchanan (t-28th, 207)

Sydnee Burns - East Atchison (t-42nd, 213)

Kelsea Kirwan - East Atchison (54th, 221)

Justina Wimer - Worth County (t-61st, 226)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634682197970.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo. Sidnee Carr is not pictured, since she left to play volleyball." />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo. Sidnee Carr is not pictured, since she left to play volleyball.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe girls’ state golf tournaments concluded in all classes Tuesday afternoon, and there are three medalists from the KFEQ/St. Joseph Post area, including a top three finisher in Class 1.Class 1 in BolivarEast Buchanan senior Madi Jessen finished third overall, shooting a round-one 88 and round-two 92. She was only eight strokes off the lead and three strokes away from finishing second.A two-time district champion, Jessen finished fourth at state last year.The Bulldogs finished 4th out of 9 teams - six shots ahead of 5th place East Atchison. The Maysville girls finished 9th as a team. East Atchison’s Jamie Barnett finished tied for 13th, shooting a 101 and 99.Class 2 in ColumbiaSavannah’s Mollee Olszowka finished 18th with a first-round 92 and second-round 88. She was only five strokes away from medaling. Benton’s Jaida Cox tied for 46th with rounds of 97 and 108.Class 4 in SpringfieldSt. Joseph Central’s Ali Perry comes home a state medalist, placing 13th with rounds of 82 and 78. She placed 23rd at state the year prior.Evan Sigars tied for 49th, shooting a score of 90 on each day. Sigars placed 55th at the state meet last season.Full local results, starting with Class 1 (place, total score)Madi Jessen - East Buchanan (3rd, 180)Jamie Barnett - East Atchison (t-13th, 200)Cailyn Auffert - Maryville (17th, 201)Hannah Archdekin - East Buchanan (t-28th, 207)Elle Copple - Gallatin (t-33rd, 209)Sydnee Burns - East Atchison (t-42nd, 213)Hannah Riner -Maysville (47th, 217)Josie King - East Atchison (t-48th, 218)Sidnee Carr - East Buchanan (53rd, 220)Kelsea Kirwan - East Atchison (54th, 221)Hayley Sweiger - Maysville (t-58th, 224)Justina Wimer - Worth County (t-61st, 226)Alexandria McManus - Maysville (t-64th, 229)Casey Phillips - Maryville (67th, 231)Addisyn Musser - East Buchanan (t-69th, 239)Claire Renfro - Maysville (71st, 240)Lauren Jaster - Maryville (t-74th, 246)Courtney Crose - Gallatin (t-78th, 250)Class 1 team standingsEast Buchanan - 4th (+270) East Atchison - 5th (+276) Maysville - 9th (+334)Class 2 local resultsMollee Olszowka - Savannah (18th, 180)Jaida Cox - Benton (t-46th, 205)Maggie Elgert - Savannah (t-56th, 215)Macy Bernard - Benton (t-69th, 232)Kennedy Roach - Cameron (t-69th, 232)Hailee Williams - Cameron (t-74th, 236)Class 4 local resultsAli Perry - St. Joseph Central (t-13th, 160)Evan Sigars - St. Joseph Central (t-49th, 180)Ava Gaddie - St. Joseph Central (t-62nd, 190)<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">Extremely proud of these girls. 4 years ago there was no golf team and today they took home 4th in state. Very impressive! Don’t mind the poor photoshop, Sidnee Carr had to leave early to get back to play for a conference title. <a href="https://twitter.com/chrisRroush?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chrisRroush</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SJNPSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SJNPSports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LeaderMOSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LeaderMOSports</a> <a href="https://t.co/DUDtyR4VuD">pic.twitter.com/DUDtyR4VuD</a>&mdash; Michael (@carpenter387) <a href="https://twitter.com/carpenter387/status/1450579801375453184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
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</div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">Ali Perry finishes with a 78 on Round 2 for a 2-day score of 160! Way to go, Ali! We are so proud of you! Top 15 medal All-State, and Ali is T13 as of now! Waiting on the final groups to come in! ⛳️ <a href="https://twitter.com/CHS_Indians?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CHS_Indians</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/chsabc2015?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chsabc2015</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/chrisRroush?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chrisRroush</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DCLau5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DCLau5</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KQ2SPORTS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KQ2SPORTS</a> ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/SJNPSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SJNPSports</a>⁩ <a href="https://t.co/11U0vlWAAb">pic.twitter.com/11U0vlWAAb</a>&mdash; Central Indians Golf (@CHS_Indian_Golf) <a href="https://twitter.com/CHS_Indian_Golf/status/1450558159723061267?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
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