The win pushes the Rock Bridge girl's basketball team to a 19-6 record on the season.
COLUMBIA — On a night where the seniors were honored, it was the underclassmen who stole the show, leading the Rock Bridge girls basketball team to a 62-40 victory Thursday over the visiting Helias Crusaders.
Junior forward Katherine Harry led the Bruins (19-6) with a game-high 19 points.
“She obviously is going to have the size advantage at 6-foot-3,” senior guard Claire Schaeperkoetter said. “If she puts in those shots close to the basket, we have a big advantage.”
Sophomore guard Amaya Williams chipped in with 13.
Schaeperkoetter said she enjoyed her last home game for Rock Bridge.
“It’s nice to go out on a win,” she said. “We’ve got districts coming up and hopefully we will be able to build on this.”
Schaeperkoetter said that the emotions involved with senior night translated into a quick start on the court.
Rock Bridge jumped ahead 11-2, and Helias (17-6) was never able to catch up.
“Our goal is to get off to a fast, quick start,” Rock Bridge coach Jill Nagel said.
Although Rock Bridge was superior to Helias in most aspects of the game, Helias might get a chance to avenge this loss if they can defeat Smith-Cotton on Monday in the first round of districts. A Crusaders win would set up a rematch of Thursday night’s game except on a neutral court.
“Helias is a good team,” Schaeperkoetter said. “The scoreboard doesn’t show how talented they are. Things can easily be flip-flopped next week.”
Nagel said Helias was a good team and that Rock Bridge would need to make adjustments during film sessions in order to be ready for Helias if the teams meet again.
Rock Bridge, the No. 2 seed in Class 5 District 10, faces the Helias-Smith-Cotton winner at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Hickman.