​Huge Comeback Advances Lady Eagles In The Playoffs

by John Unrein

     Grain Valley Lady Eagles head basketball coach Randy Draper enjoys the tradition of a Beatles song being played during pregame warmups before each home game. Boys assistant basketball coach Ryan Adams kept the tradition alive with “I want to hold your hand” prior to tipoff. The continuing of the ritual had a calming effect on the entire Lady Eagles coaching staff. Little did they know that would be the only respite their blood pressure would get until the game’s conclusion on February 27th.
     The Lady Eagles entered the start of the fourth quarter down ten points by a score of 38-28. Missed shots by Grain Valley during the second and third quarters along with the scoring of Emani and Elauni Bennett for Lee’s Summit North left them with a steep hill to climb during the final eight minutes of the contest. The sophomore Bennett twin sisters would combine to score 27 of the Broncos 47 total points.
     The home bench of the Lady Eagles never panicked and coached an epic fourth quarter comeback in which Grain Valley scored twenty points in route to a 48-47 opening round Class 6 District 14 tournament win. Grace Slaughter delivered big for the Lady Eagles as the game’s leading scorer with 29 points, 5 rebounds, an assist, 3 steals, and a block. No shot was bigger for the sophomore than the one she made with 2:04 left to go in the game.
     Slaughter would weave through both Bennett twins before twisting her body underneath the basket to complete the layup. The basket would give Grain Valley the lead for the first time since the first quarter. Every teammate on the Lady Eagles bench erupted out of their seats as Draper sat down with the opposite reaction satisfied with the outcome.
     Seniors Jordyn Weems and Gabbi Keim would join Slaughter in late game heroics. Both Weems and Keim would make big free throws to help strengthen their team’s lead and secure the win in the waning minutes. Keim would step to the line first with 1:44 left in the game and sink both free throws with a smooth left handed stroke that provided her team a three point lead at 45-42.
     Weems would follow with just 16 seconds left in the game. The first attempt by Weems would bounce off the rim. There was no hesitation once the ball was received by Weems from the referee to enter her routine again before draining the second free throw. It would be Weems only point of the game and could not have been timed better as it secured the Lady Eagles one point margin of victory.
     “Those last two free throws had to go in. There was no question. That was my mind set,” Keim said.
     “This is my first playoff win as a Grain Valley Eagle. It has not sunk in yet, but this is awesome.”
     Weems added, “I was a little stressed when I stepped to the line at the end. My team needed the second free throw, and I was determined it was going to go in.”
     “This could have been my last game as an Eagle, and it really means so much to me that I can keep playing with this awesome group. We have put so much work into this and we have improved so much throughout the whole season.”
     Slaughter finished, “To be honest, there was a lot of craziness going on in this game as we lost the early lead. We scrambled and were able to get it back. Coach Draper had told us that we would press them in trying to get some extra possessions and we switched to more motion offense (in the second half) that paid off.”
     “My final basket, I was looking to drive and possibly kick the ball out for an open three look. Instead, I took advantage of the opening and we got a layup and an and one (free throw attempt). I am so proud of this team and the focus it took tonight to come back and win.”
     The Grain Valley Lady Eagles coaching staff huddled near their bench after the game. Draper, assistant coaches Pete Carpino, Troy Spradley, and Tori Squires were wrought with emotion at the prospect of their season continuing into March. Each spent time reflecting on their favorite memory of the game and how much their team has grown this season.
     “The final quarter proved who I thought we were. We were tough when there were plenty of chances to go away and we didn’t do it. I told the team after the game that in the third quarter we could not make a basket, but we were making good choices. I did not feel the same way in the second quarter,” Draper said.
     “We started to press them in the final quarter and continued to get our legs under us offensively some more which turned things to us.”
     Draper continued, “We had two seniors make big free throws down the stretch that are going to keep us floating. That is hard to do. Gabbi (Keim) was so calm when she stepped to the line. Weems never flinched after she missed the first one, which made me feel good about her final attempt.”
     “We talked at practice this week that there are two types of teams. There’s the team that is ready to turn in their stuff and move on to spring sports and then there is the other side of a team that cannot imagine their season ending.”
     Draper concluded, “A lot of the time when you are in a dog fight and trying to climb up hill you never get over the hump and get the lead. Grace’s bucket towards the end was huge for us because it gave us the lead and was a point of belief in which we said this is going to happen, so let’s go.”
     Grain Valley (14-6) with the win over Lee’s Summit North (5-12) moves on to face Blue Springs at 7:00 pm on March 1st in the second round of the Class 6 District 14 tournament.
     

Left to right: Head coach Randy Draper, Assistant Coach Troy Spradley, Assistant Coach Tori Squiers, and Assistant Coach Pete Carpino.
​Photo credit: Valley News staff

Senior Gabbi Keim sinks two free throws late in the game.
​Photo credit: Valley News staff

Senior Jordyn Weems blocks the path of a Lee's Summit North player.
Photo credit: Valley News staff

Sophomore Grace Slaughter swishes a three pointer.
​Photo credit: Valley News staff