Incarnate Word, 28-0: They Left MICDS Nowhere to Go

The MICDS girls basketball team is keeping pretty good company these days. They have found the same results that 25 other teams found this winter. All 25 teams have gone up against Incarnate Word Academy only to lose. Behind the 27 point performance of sophomore sensation Napheesa Collier, IWA ended the Rams season, winning the sectional game at Parkway West last night, 61-37. IWA is 28-0 for the season.

MICDS had won the last 11 games of the season coming into this playoff battle.

Collier is no hidden secret. Muffet McGraw, head coach of Notre Dame was in attendance, along with coaches from Penn State, Iowa State and Stanford. Collier is a prize every college team would like to secure.

The game was relatively easy for the Red Knights. They jumped out to a 14-7 lead and were never headed. By half, they held a comfortable 34-16 lead.

The Red Knights have other talent. Gwen Adams bulldozed the middle scoring 9. McKenna Treece, a junior center had 9.

What did the coaches have to say?

Dan Rolfes, IWA

Quote 1: “I was pleased. Obviously as a coach, I always see things we can work on. But I never question our kids effort and hard they play.”

Quote 2: “Napheesa really gave the fans something to watch. She always does. That’s why Notre Dame and everyone else was in the house to watch her. She’s a tremendous player.”

For the first time ever, IWA is in the Class 4 tournament, rather than Class 5.

Quote 3: “This is so different for us. I haven’t seen MICDS all year.  We are playing teams I never get to see. I was in Mexico scouting a game. This is totally different.”

Scott Small, MICDS

Quote 1: “I was worried about getting punched in the mouth in the first quarter. Both teams seem to come out and were nervous. I felt we got punched in the mouth in the second quarter.”

Quote 2: “They are just so physical. That (Napheesa) Collier is a great player. They are a great team and I though we played well.”

Quote 3: “I would like to have seen us shoot with more confidence in the first half.”

The scoring summary:

IWA:

Napheesa Collier 27 points; McKenna Treece, 9 points; Gwen Adams, 9 points.

MICDS:

Rachel Thompson, 11 points; Caroline Militello, 8 points; Taylor Baur, 8 points.

What’s next:

Undefeated IWA faces the winner of St. Dominic/Mexico Saturday, 2:45 p.m. at Francis Howell Central with the winner going next weekend to the Show-Me Showdown state finals in Columbia.