The Cairo Lady Cats reached the state finals for a second straight season after beating Rock Port 56-46 in a streaky game Friday.
Rock Port got out to a 10-3 lead before Cairo responded with 20 straight points.
That bucket one minute into the second was Cairo’s last shot make of the quarter, which allowed Rock Port to cut its 13-point deficit to three by halftime.
The Lady Cats built their lead back up to eight in the third quarter but again Rock Port stayed in it. The Lady Jays made a three to start the fourth quarter that cut their deficit to one. Cairo held them to two points the rest of the way.
Macie Harman had nine of her team-high 20 points in the final frame to help pull away. She was named the Freeman Financial and Insurance Outstanding Player of the Game. Avery Brumley landed six threes in total to finish with 18. Rock Port’s Audrie Meyerkorth scored 25.
Cairo will play Chadwick, which finished as runner-up two seasons ago, for the state title Saturday. Chadwick topped Walnut Grove 48-40. We’ll have the game on NP1 with pregame at 7:45.
Cairo coach Brian Winkler Postgame:
