By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
SPRINGFIELD - The game was fun. Until it wasn't.
At least, that's how Benton girls' basketball coach Chris Michaels described it.
Benton (25-6) led at the end of the first and second quarter and throughout much of the third. However, a buzzer beater three by John Burroughs' Monet Witherspoon put the Bombers up 33-31 entering the fourth.
Burroughs (22-4) never trailed the rest of the way, and the Bombers went onto win 54-46 in the Class 4 girls' state basketball championship at JQH Arena in Springfield Saturday.
John Burroughs, winning their program's first state title in their fifth Final Four appearance, sunk 12-of-16 free throws in the final quarter to help seal the victory. Their 1-3-1 zone defense also created problems for Benton offensively.
"That was a heck of a game," Michaels said. "It was fun. Until it wasn't. You have to give congratulations to Burroughs. They did some things to us that we did not expect. That's a heck of a job by their staff."
The game started out for Benton much like Friday's semifinal did against Helias Catholic. Low scoring, and the Cardinals jumped to an early, slim lead.
Behind a couple of early three-pointers by senior Jaida Cox, and another by junior Peyton Anderson, the Cardinals led 11-8 at the end of one. Leading by as many as four in the first half, Benton took a 21-19 lead into the locker room.
The third quarter was back and forth for awhile, but Benton built a 30-25 advantage with 2:21 after a successful and-one by Cox.
John Burroughs ended the third quarter on an 8-1 run, which was capped off by the three-pointer by Witherspoon, who finished with 16 points.
Benton tied it twice early in the fourth, but Burroughs took the lead for good with 5:08 to go after a pair of Allie Turner free throws but the Bombers up 41-37.
Cox was called on an offensive charge on Benton's ensuing possession with 4:29 remaining, and Burroughs continued to get stops and get free throws.
Turner, who led Burroughs with 19 points, went 12-for-14 at the foul line Saturday, including 10-for-12 in the final period.
"We tried to take her away," Michaels said of Turner. "She won't go away. Like, she keeps catching the ball. We put two girls on her, and she caught the ball. So, that's a good player."
Cox led her team in her final varsity game with 20 points. Junior Kelsey Johnson had 12 points and a game-high eight rebounds.
Benton now says an emotional goodbye to three varsity seniors - Cox, Olivia Walters and Lauren Burright. Walters had six rebounds, while Burright had five points and three boards.
"It was a great time," Cox said as she reflected on her final game in her final season. "Especially being out on that floor with those girls for the last time. I just knew I had to put everything in for those girls who were going to do the same thing for me in the end."
It's not the ending Benton wanted, but the Cardinals finish with 10 more wins than what they had last year, and they improve off of their fourth place finish at state last season, taking the program to back-to-back state semi appearances for the first time ever.
The work to come back to Springfield for a third straight year, Michaels says, begins right away.
"This is a special group," Michaels said proudly. "They've done something that's never been done before in Benton history and Benton is pretty storied. These girls have changed the culture of Benton girls' basketball in the sense of how much they love each other, and how much they're willing to work for us."
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