Hadley DeFreece Steal Lifts Bluejays Past Warriors for Stanberry Title

Hadley DeFreece had a steal with 2:44 left in the game that put Northeast Nodaway's girls up for good and the Bluejays held on through some anxious moments before avenging their opening night loss to Albany, getting a 35-33 win Saturday afternoon. There were some anxious moments for both teams throughout the tournament; the Bluejays were challenged hard by King City, who led much of the way before Kynder Florea's free throw with 1.9 seconds left put the Bluejays on top. Albany had trouble with North Andrew in the first round before winning 49-45 and then trailed Platte Valley much of the way in the semifinal before putting together a dominant fourth quarter to come back and win.

The game started  off as a tight defensive struggle in the first quarter. Albany could not solve Northeast's unorthodox 2-3 zone, which relies on extreme ball pressure and a one or two man press on whoever is bringing the ball up the floor. Albany was playing Northeast with full court man to man pressure throughout the game. Both teams only managed two points as Jayden Hillyard got loose in transition once for the Warriors while Skyler Florea got loose against the Albany press and scored. Baylie Busby picked up two quick fouls and sat for much of the first quarter.

It looked like Northeast might take control to start the second quarter as Busby came back and scored off a drive, Skyler Florea scored from inside, and Blair Nelson knocked one down from the high post to make it 8-3 at the 3:30 mark of the second quarter. But then Jayden Hillyard knocked one down from the high post for Albany and then Busby picked up a charge trying to drive around a ball screen and the Warriors hung around, closing to within 13-11 at the halftime buzzer on Kaitlyn Bunker's inside shot after Hayleigh Wink's inbounds pass. 

Busby came back to start the third quarter, but Bunker put the Warriors in front 14-13 with an inside shot at the 5:50 mark of the third quarter. Busby answered with an inside shot as Northeast moved her inside to take advantage of a smaller defender and she added a free throw to make it 16-14. Albany had been trying to shoot Northeast out of their unorthodox zone throughout the game and finally got a Kennedi Epperly 3-pointer to drop with 4:24 left to make it 17-16. But Busby answered with a steal and Hayley Yost kicked one out to Skyler Florea for three to make it 21-17 after three.

Bunker cut it to 21-18, but then Hayley Yost, after standing on the left baseline and being left alone forever, finally heard Sasha Deardorff from the bench telling her to take it and she did, hitting her first ever 3-pointer with 6:53 left to make it 24-18. Albany stormed back when Kennedi Epperly hit her second 3-pointer and Maddix Epperly hit one from the high post, but Busby answered with a drive and Skyler Florea hit two free throws to make it 27-23 with 4:38 left.

Things then threatened to head south for the Bluejays as Skyler Florea fouled Bunker for her fourth foul with 3:46 left. Bunker converted the basket and the free throw to make it 27-26. Bunker then scored again to make it 28-27 and put Albany in front. 

Albany got a stop and the ball back with a chance to run out some clock, but then Hadley DeFreece got a steal and converted it on the other end over a defender to put the Bluejays back in front and then Blair Nelson hit a free throw to make it 30-28 with 2:13 left.

Kennedi Epperly, who hit both Albany 3-pointers up to that point, missed a go-ahead three and a tie-up went to the Bluejays with 1:46 left. Emmy Hogue stole it for Albany, but Kynder Florea blocked it. Hayley Yost secured the rebound but couldn't keep her balance and traveled with it. 

On the ensuing possession Hadley DeFreece got a tip, and Kynder Florea got a steal, and Baylie Busby had a good look at a 3-point shot that would have put NEN up five but missed it. The tie-up on the rebound went back to Albany with 1:25 left. 

Emmy Hogue tried a drive down the left baseline but missed and Jayden Hillyard got the offensive board and was fouled. She made one out of two with 56 seconds left to draw Albany to within one at 30-29.

Albany ran a trap at Busby on the ensuing possession and fouled her, and Busby made one out of two to make it 31-29. On the second shot, Skyler Florea got an offensive board and was fouled, making one of two with 49 seconds left to make it 32-29. Kennedi Epperly missed a tying three on the other end and Skyler Florea rebounded it and got it to Baylie Busby, who made both free throws with 32 seconds left to make it 34-29.

There were some anxious moments in the closing seconds as Northeast fouled Jayden Hillyard with 18 seconds left, but she missed both free throws. Albany fouled Busby with 14 seconds left and she made one of two with 14 seconds left to make it 35-29. Maddix Epperly missed a 3-pointer in the closing seconds, but Kaitlyn Bunker made a putback and was fouled with 1.9 seconds left, making it 35-31.

Longtime Northwest Missouri State Women's Basketball coach Gene Steinmeyer used to obsess about ways a team could lose a two or three possession lead in the last few seconds. Sure enough, Bunker missed the ensuing free throw, only to grab the ball and put it back in to make it 35-33. Albany frantically called timeout to try and set up a steal and a game-tying or game-winning 3-pointer, but the clock continues to run in high school after a made basket, and Referee Mike Mattson ruled time had expired. 

Skyler Florea and Baylie Busby had 12 points each. Hadley DeFreece had 5 and Blair Nelson and Hayley Yost had 3 each.

Kynder Florea had 2 blocks and Hayley Yost 1.

Skyler Florea had 9 rebounds. Baylie Busby had 8, Blair Nelson 6, Kynder Florea 5, Hadley DeFreece 4, and Hayley Yost and Sasha Deardorff 2 each.

Hadley DeFreece had 3 assists. Kynder Florea had 2 and Baylie Busby, Skyler Florea, Blair Nelson, and Hayley Yost had 1 each.

Hadley DeFreece had 9 tips. Baylie Busby had 6, Kynder Florea 5, Skyler Florea 4, and Hayley Yost, Blair Nelson, and Sasha Deardorff had 2 each.

Kynder Florea had 5 steals. Hadley DeFreece had 3, Baylie Busby 2, and Hayley Yost and Skyler Florea 1 each.