Undefeated Pats eager for postseason

The undefeated Truman High School girls basketball team closed out the regular season in dramatic fashion.

Now, they are just waiting for the snow to clear to begin district action.

Coach Steve Cassity's 24-0 Patriots were scheduled to meet Liberty in Class 5 District 15 action Tuesday night, but the big snow storm that hit the area forced the game to be moved to 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Liberty High School.

“We don't' care when we play, we just want to play,” said senior forward Ashley Guenther, who played a big role in the Class 5 No. 1-ranked Patriots’ 60-47 win over Park Hill South in the regular-season finale.

The Patriots were missing center Becca Jonas, who was out with an illness, as they traveled to Park Hill South to face a Panthers team that was 8-1 in conference play. Their lone Suburban Middle Six loss had come at the hands of the Patriots.

“We knew they'd be thinking they could beat us because we didn't have Becca,” said Guenther, who scored 16 points and added seven rebounds and three assists, “but we just saw it as a challenge to go up there and win the game and finish the season undefeated.”

Mission accomplished.

“I think they were more focused, more determined and more mentally prepared because (Jonas) wasn't here,” Truman coach Steve Cassity said Saturday. “Becca does so much for us, but the kids stepped up and played great.”

Junior guard Abby Hix added 16 points and junior forward/guard/post Kayla Harrell finished with 12.

“Kayla played everywhere in that game,” Guenther said, grinning. “That's one reason we've been so successful this season. We have a lot of girls who can play wherever Coach Cassity needs them.

Parton said the win was the perfect way to enter postseason action.

“If someone like Becca or Ashley gets in foul trouble in the playoffs,” Parton said, “we know someone can come in and fill in for them. We won without Becca, and now, we know we can win when we don't have one of our starters.”

The 21-4 Panthers took an 18-13 lead in the second quarter. But the Patriots took a 15-4 run and big lead into the locker room.

“We played real well in the second quarter,” Guenther said. “We have a lot of good players, but we don't have that one girl that other teams feel like they need to stop offensively. If they stop one of us, someone else is going to score.

“Our versatility has been a big reason for our success.”

When asked if the undefeated record could pose any type of a distraction in the postseason, both girls said no way.

“Our goal is go undefeated, but it's not a distraction,” Guenther said. “We play for each other. We love each other and work hard because we never want to let anyone down.”

Added Parton: “We think a lot about going undefeated, but it's not a distraction. We want to keep it going now, because if you lose, you go home. And no one wants this season to end.”