The Lift for Life girls basketball team’s 2025-26 season was marked by great adversity and resilience.
The Hawks overcame injuries to three of their top players to win their third consecutive state championship. Lift for Life defeated MICDS 60-41 in an All-St. Louis championship game on Thursday night at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia.
Lift for Life played the entire season without star junior guard Amaya Manuel, who suffered a knee injury during the fall. Her twin sister, Cara Manuel, suffered a season-ending injury in December. Senior guard Zha Harris missed the first two months of the season with an ankle injury.
Harris returned to the lineup in late January to join senior Diamond Polk, who did an outstanding job of holding the team together with her veteran leadership. The Hawks put everything together for a dominant postseason run, culminating in the state title.
In the state championship game, the 5’6″ Harris scored a team-high 16 points. The Missouri State recruit also had five rebounds, three assists and six steals. Polk, a 5’8″ guard, added 13 points and three rebounds. Junior forward Rian Lenox had 13 points and 11 rebounds while senior forward Kahmyla Bell added 11 points, 13 rebounds and two steals.
Lift for Life advanced to the championship game with a 64-46 victory over Grandview on Thursday night. Polk led the way with 16 points, five rebounds and four steals while Harris added 15 points and two steals. Lenox had 11 points and eight rebounds while senior guard Chase Hardieway had eight points, three rebounds and two assists.
MICDS was making its second consecutive appearance in the Final Four. The Rams advanced to the championship game after finishing in fourth place last season.
The Rams were led by 6’1″ standout sophomore Jordyn Haywood, who had 35 points, 16 rebounds, five steals and and two blocks in a 59-52 victory over Marshfield in the semifinals. She scored 22 points and grabbed five rebounds in the championship game against Lift for Life.
Incarnate Word wins the Class 6 state championship
Incarnate Word Academy captured another Class 6 state championship with a 50-46 victory over Staley on Thursday night in Columbia. It was the ninth consecutive state championship for the Red Knights, who also defeated Staley for the state title last season.
The two teams battled on even terms throughout the game, but the Red Knights outlasted the very talented Falcons squad from the Kansas City area.
Senior guard Addi Owen scored a game-high 16 points for the Red Knights. The SEMO recruit made three of four shots from 3-point range. Senior guard Peyton Olufson added 15 points. She is a Saint Louis University recruit.