A historic season came to an end Saturday for the Emporia High girls basketball team against Andover in the third-place game of the Class 5A State Tournament at White Auditorium.
For the third time this season, Emporia High dropped a game. Andover used a strong third quarter to defeat the Lady Spartans, 66-49, to take third while the Lady Spartans settled for fourth, the first state placing for EHS since 2009 when the Lady Spartans finished fourth.
Emporia High had a fast start leading 4-0 in the first minute but Andover responded taking a 6-5 lead before the game was tied at 8. Andover led 12-8 at the end of one and led 26-21 at halftime. The Trojans’ third proved to be a difference maker with the Trojans holding a 51-29 advantage. Emporia High pulled within 13 late despite trailing by as many as 25. In her final game in an Emporia High uniform, Addie Kirmer finished with 20 points. Emporia High coach Carolyn Dorsey said this group was special.
Emporia High graduates 12 seniors, Lauren Williams, Ryan Peak, Kirmer, Emeil Bennett, Lexsey Dewitt, Taylor Cunningham, Addison Gutierrez, Kyla Herfkens, Damia Zapata, Alexa Shivley, Teegan Baker and Zayda Pearson. The Lady Spartans finish the season 22-3, which included the program’s first Centennial League championship since 1997 and winning the Glacier’s Edge Tournament and had a 20-game winning streak spanned from December 9, 2023 to Friday night.
