The Principia Panthers made history in girls basketball by winning their first-ever state championship on Thursday evening.
Principia defeated St. Vincent 60-32 to win the Missouri 3 state championship at the Mizzou Arena on the campus of the University of Missouri-Columbia. The Panthers finished their outstanding season with a 30-2 season while playing an excellent schedule against many of the top teams in the state.
Principia’s season began in late November with a victory over St. Vincent at a big Showcase event in Farmington. In the rematch, the Panthers got off to a fast start in the first quarter as they never trailed. Sophomore guard made three 3-pointers early to get Principia going. The 5’5″ Love scored a game-high 19 points, along with three rebounds and six assists. All-state forward Dasia Scott added 14 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots.
In the semifinals, the Panthers were equally dominant as they defeated Skyline 69-46. The 6’2″ Scott had 25 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals. Love added 14 points and nine rebounds while freshman guard Aniyah Poniewaz had 13 points, three assists and two steals. Sophomore forward Paige Ivy added eight points and six rebounds.
The Principia girls’ program has become a state powerhouse in recent years under the direction of head coach Jacob Spuhl. The Panthers won the state title in their third consecutive trips to the Final Four. They finished second in the Class 2 state tournament in 2025 and second in the Class 3 state tournament in 2025.