The girls basketball program at Lift for Life Academy has established itself as one of the best in the state of Missouri.
The Hawks have won two state championships in the past five seasons, including the Class 4 state title last year. They are currently flying high at No. 1 in the state Class 5 poll at 15-4. The impressive record includes challenges against top teams from Missouri and outside of the state.
Lift for Life advanced to the championship game of the prestigious Visitation Tournament before losing to nationally-ranked Incarnate Word Academy. The squad then bounced back to defeat Cardinal Ritter 54-51 in a possible district championship game rematch coming up in March.
The hallmark of Lift for Life’s success is its tremendous backcourt play, which is arguably the best in the state.. The Hawks start four guards, all of whom are Division I college prospects with scholarship offers.
Lift for Life’s leading scorer is 5’7” sophomore Amaya Manuel, who is one of the top guards in the country in the Class of 2027. She is averaging 16.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, three assists and three steals a game while making 50 percent of her 3-point attempts.
Junior guard Zha Harris is currently averaging 13.8 points, three rebounds and a team-high four steals a game. Junior Diamond Polk averages close to 10 points a game while sophomore guard Cara Manuel averages 9.2 points while shooting 39 percent from 3-point range. She is the twin sister of Amaya Manuel.
The Hawks also have some young and developing players along the front line, led by 5’9” sophomore forward Rian Lenox who averages 6.2 points and a team-high 8.2 rebounds a game. Kah’myla Bell is a 6’0” junior and Saudia Brock is a 5’10” sophomore who are also strong up front.
Earl’s World
Good things are happening with the women’s basketball program at Lindenwood University. The Lions are in their third year as a Division I program, and second-year head coach Amy Eagan has the Lions rolling this season. Lindenwood defeated Eastern Illinois last Saturday to grab a share of the lead in the Ohio Valley Conference. Both Lindenwood and EIU are currently 10-2 in OVC play. The well-balanced team is led by sophomore guard Ellie Brueggeman, who averages 11.7 points a game. Brooke Coffey, a former standout at Incarnate Word Academy, averages 10 points a game. Senior Justis Odom and sophomores Gracy Wernli, Mya Skoff and Mykayla Cunningham are also excellent young contributors…The Bank of O’Fallon Shootout is an excellent two-day event that will take place on Friday and Saturday at O’Fallon High. There will be two games on Friday with O’Fallon vs. Nashville (girls) at 6 p.m. followed by O’Fallon vs. Columbia (boys) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday’s four-game schedule includes: O’Fallon vs. Vianney, 3:30 p.m., Webster Groves vs. Chicago Whitney Young, 5 p.m.; Peoria Manual vs. Fishers (IN), 6:30 p.m., Vashon vs. Bolingbrook (IL), 8 p.m…The Webster Winter Classic, one of the top in-season girls’ basketball tournaments in the state is also on tap. The tournament features Incarnate Word, Columbia Rock Bridge, John Burroughs and Cor Jesu, who were all in the Final Four of the state tournament last season. Also in the field at Cardinal Ritter, St. Joseph’s, Webster Groves and Pattonville. The semifinals will be held on Friday night at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The championship game will be held on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The third-place game is scheduled for 3 p.m.