Dispatching South Callaway’s Lady Bulldogs 52-29 in opening-round action last Monday night during the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 3, District 7 Girls Basketball Tournament at Hermann High School (HHS), Ashley Aaron’s Hermann’s Lady Bearcats earned another shot at Father Tolton’s Lady Trailblazers last Wednesday night in the district semifinals.

Hermann entered the game looking to avenge a 48-41 loss to the Lady Trailblazers right before the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

Jumping out to a 16-6 lead after one quarter, Hermann saw that lead cut to one point at halftime by a score of 24-23.

Outscored 31-22 in the second half, Aaron’s Lady Bearcats ended their season with an overall record of 16-12 following a 54-46 loss.

Father Tolton went on to lose to Centralia in the district championship game Friday night by a final score of 67-48.

Benefiting from four made 3-pointers and four makes from the free-throw line, Hermann built a double-digit lead after one quarter against Father Tolton behind eight points from Kealie Lane, six points from Brynlee Ash and two points from Andrea VanBooven.

Getting three points apiece from Lane and Ash in the second quarter, the host Lady Bearcats narrowly went into halftime with the lead.

Edging Tolton 11-7 in the third quarter, Hermann found themselves eight minutes from a shot at a district championship Friday night leading 35-30 after three quarters.

Only able to manage 11 fourth-quarter points compared to 24 for Father Tolton, the Lady Bearcats saw their third-straight 16-win season end in spite of a game-high double double from Lane with 21 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Ash also reached double figures for the blue and white with 11 points, six rebounds and four assists.

Kalli Landolt chipped in six points and four rebounds to go along with three points apiece from Kimber Hale and Madyson Yates.

Hale also added three rebounds and a team-high three assists to her three points.

VanBooven hit a pair of first-quarter free throws for her two points in addition to grabbing four rebounds.

Lady Bearcats vs. South Callaway

Ending their regular season on a winning note with a 42-16 victory over New Haven’s Lady Shamrocks, Aaron’s Lady Bearcats looked to carry that momentum into their MSHSAA Class 3, District 7 Girls Basketball Tournament opener last Monday night against South Callaway’s Lady Bulldogs.

Leading 14-4 after one quarter, Hermann doubled their point total in the second quarter helping them to a 28-11 halftime lead.

Holding the Lady Bulldogs to 18 second-half points, the Lady Bearcats advanced to the district semifinals following a 52-29 victory behind game-high 18 points from Landolt.

She also grabbed seven rebounds.

Ash also reached double figures with 12 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists.

Lane narrowly missed a double double finishing with eight points and a game-high 14 points in addition to three steals and three assists.

Victoria VanBooven canned a pair of 3-pointers giving her six points for the Lady Bearcats while Yates scored all five of her points in the second quarter.

Andrea VanBooven capped Hermann’s scoring against South Callaway with three points all in the first quarter.

Finishing second in the Four Rivers Conference (FRC) standings with a 6-1 record behind St. James’ Lady Tigers, Hermann’s Lady Bearcats will have to wait until Wednesday, March 11 to see if any All-FRC honors will be heading to northern Gasconade County.