Incarnate Word Academy added to its state championship trophy collection on a very emotional Saturday night at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia.
The Red Knights defeated Springfield Kickapoo 53-43 to win the Class 6 state championship. It’s the seventh consecutive state championship for Incarnate Word, which also ran its state record winning streak to 131 games.
The Red Knights (31-0) were able to power through to win another state title despite playing without its leader and most powerful voice in head coach Dan Rolfes, who was hospitalized after suffering a medical emergency after Friday night’s semifinal game win over Rock Bridge.
From the opening tip-off, the Red Knights were off and running as senior Kaylynn Janes scored on a layup in the opening seconds of the game. From that point on, the Red Knights took control of the game with its stifling pressure defense that limited Kickapoo to 31 percent shooting from the field while also forcing 18 turnovers. Incarnate Word was able to score 25 points off of those turnovers which was nearly half of their total for the game. They also did not allow a made 3-pointer by Kickapoo during the game.
Junior guard Peyton Hill scored 17 points to lead Incarnate Word while Janes added 16 points, Janes, a 5’11” Northern Iowa recruit, played all four years at Incarnate Word without losing a game in her career. Junior guard Nevaeh Caffey had seven points, 10 rebounds and four steals.
Kickapoo (30-2) was led by junior Mikayla Pilley and sophomore Josie Salazar, who scored 13 points each.
