For the first time in 15 years, the Emporia High girls basketball team picked up a win at the Class 5A State Tournament Thursday night against Bishop Carroll at White Auditorium.
Emporia High defeated the Golden Eagles, 38-35, to advance to the 5A semifinals to face Maize South in front of a crowd of 3,413. For a majority of this year’s team, it’s their third trip to the state tournament dropping their first games of the tournament both in 2022 and 2023. The Lady Spartans would not be denied a third time.
Bishop Carroll led by as many as three points early, but Emporia High stormed back to take a 9-8 lead at the end of the first and led 21-12 at halftime. Emporia High led by as many as 11 in the third quarter, but Bishop Caroll pulled within three early in the fourth quarter. Emporia High extended the lead to 10 with over 90 seconds left and Carroll pulled back within three, but it was a little too late.
Addie Kirmer led Emporia High with 16 points. Emporia High coach Carolyn Dorsey said the Lady Spartans found a way to hang on.
Emporia High improves to 22-1 on the season, now winners of 20 straight. The Lady Spartans will face Maize South at 8 p.m. Friday at White Auditorium. Maize South is also 22-1 and has won 18 straight after knocking off 7-time defending state champion St. Thomas Aquinas, 55-52, in overtime of its quarterfinal.
