Incarnate Word Academy of St. Louis is quite familiar with post-season play. Since 1989, they’ve missed the MSHSAA girls’ basketball playoffs only three times and have made three-straight trips to the semifinals. But for all that experience, they have just one state championship: the 1995 Class 3A title.
That changed on Saturday night.
The Red Knights used a surge in the third quarter to top Notre Dame de Sion 43-31 to win the Class 4 title.
The game was nip-and-tuck early on, as Incarnate Word grabbed a 15-14 lead at the half. Notre Dame de Sion took a 20-19 lead when Morgan Henderson made good on two free throws. That was the last lead the Storm enjoyed.
Incarnate word went on an 11-2 run to end the third quarter and never looked back. They never led by less than six points the rest of the way.
Senior center Felicia Chester paced Incarnate Word with 13, while Theresa Davis scored 12 and pulled down 13 rebounds.
Henderson’s 10 points led Notre Dame de Sion, which ended the season with a 27-4 record.
Incarnate word finished 31-1.