By: KJ Cardinal
The stage is set for the finals of the 44th Annual Mike Lee Holiday Basketball Bash. In the girls title bout, host Farmington takes on Kennett at 1:00 pm, followed by the Profile boys versus Sanborn at 2:30 pm. If yesterday’s semifinals were any indication of what’s in store today, then we’re all in for a treat.
Let’s take a look at the finalists.
KENNETT EAGLES
How they got here…
Dec. 26: Kennett 48, Belmont 22
Dec. 28: Kennett 48, Sanborn 35
Dec. 29: Kennett 51, Franklin 24
Notebook….
The defending NHIAA Division II State Champion Kennett Eagles are making their sixth-straight Bash title game appearance. A win for Kennett would give the Eagles a tourney record-tying eighth Bash crown. Last season, Kennett lost in the championship game to Coffee County (TN), 54-33.
Seniors Kaley Goodhart and Sam Sidoti are the dynamic duo for Larry Meader’s Kennett squad. Goodhart is averaging 19.7 PPG in The Bash, while Sidoti is right behind her with 18.0 PPG.
FARMINGTON TIGERS
How they got here…
Dec. 26: Farmington 65, Noble 30
Dec. 27: Farmington 57, Raymond 35
Dec. 29: Farmington 47, Profile 40
Notebook….
The Tigers are making their first title game appearance since 2018 and are looking for their first Bash championship since 2009. Farmington has won the most Bash titles in tournament history with eight.
The youth movement for Farmington is underway as the Tigers rolled out a starting line up in the semifinals that consisted of two juniors, one sophomore, one freshman and one eighth-grader. That freshman, Zoey Johnson, has been nothing short of phenomenal in The Bash thus far, averaging a team best 17.0 PPG. The Tigers have posted five different double-digit scorers throughout The Bash for Dawn Weeks’ young squad that boasts balance and depth.
PROFILE PATRIOTS
How they got here…
Dec. 26: Profile 65, Derryfield 56
Dec. 27: Profile 71, Raymond 42
Dec. 28: Profile 45, Coe-Brown 30
Dec. 39: Profile 59, Windham 51
Notebook…
The Patriots are making their second-straight Bash title game appearance after falling to Belmont last year, 56-46. A win for Profile would mark their first championship in Bash history.
Mitchell Roy’s squad wrote the biggest story of The Bash thus far as the Division IV Patriots knocked off D-I Windham, 59-51, in the semifinal round yesterday. While the Patriots are known for their high-octane offense, as evidenced by a 27-2 first quarter versus Raymond in the opening round of bracket play, Profile’s defense is much-improved over a season ago. The Patriots held Windham to just 51 points as the Jaguars entered the semis averaging nearly 80 PPG in The Bash.
Profile is led by a pair of seniors in sharp shooter Josh Robie (25.5 PPG) and physical forward Alex Leslie (14.0 PPG). Junior Cayden Wakeham has also had big moments in The Bash this season, making timely buckets and being a match-up problem at times for opponents.
SANBORN INDIANS
How they got here…
Dec. 26: Windham 80, Sanborn 57
Dec. 27: Sanborn 76, Nute 30
Dec. 28: Sanborn 63, Belmont 53
Dec. 29: Sanborn 66, Derryfield 58
Sanborn, making its fifth Bash title game appearance in tourney history, is looking for their first title since capturing the first-ever Bash championship back in 1979.
Head coach Wayne Souther’s Division II squad is led by the senior duo of Chase Frizzell (17.8 PPG) and Dylan Rego (14.2 PPG). The Indians like to get out and run and boast a slew of shooters that can connect from long range.