Power in paint enables Keokuk to outlast Palmyra for girls title at Highland Tournament

LEWISTOWN, Mo. — As the second half played out, the ending seemed inevitable.

Minute by minute, possession by possession, the Keokuk girls basketball team’s commanding inside presence methodically wore down Palmyra until eventually collecting a 65-62 victory in the championship game of the 53rd Highland Tournament.

Keokuk’s title was its second straight and came largely on the strength of an overpowering 58-35 rebounding advantage, which helped offset a 12-for-38 effort at the foul line.

Keokuk (9-3) outrebounded Palmyra 16-7 in a decisive fourth quarter the saw Chiefs outscore the Panthers 22-15. 

“You could feel momentum begin to swing early in the fourth (quarter),” Keokuk coach Matt McGhghy said. “We made every possession count. Back and forth both teams went. You could just feel the energy. There were some great athletes on the floor, and this was a great championship game.”

Keokuk, the No. 3 seed, scored seven of the game’s final nine points, despite missing six straight free throw attempts over the closing 20 seconds and making just 8 of 25 foul shots in the final quarter. Foul shooting was a problem throughout the tournament for Keokuk, which made only 49 of 98 free throws in its three games at Highland.

Keokuk’s three-headed rebounding/scoring cache of 6-foot Camryn Atterberg, 5-foot-8 Neveah Logan and 5-foot-8 Kendra Boatman wore down Palmyra’s smaller frontcourt as the game progressed.

Atterberg pulled down a Keokuk-school record 21 rebounds, including eight in the fourth quarter, plus scoring 12 points.

Boatman scored 27 points, including 13 in the final period, plus hauling in nine rebounds. Boatman registered 73 points in the tournament. 

“Boatman’s competitive, not only in basketball, but everything,” McGhghy said. “That kind of attitude breeds success.”

Logan brought down 12 rebounds and scored six points.

Keokuk’s inside strength overshadowed a pair of stellar performances from Palmyra’s Sydney Compton and Clare Williams, who combined to score all but 10 of the Panthers’ points.

Compton scored a season-best 32 points and lassoed 11 rebounds. Williams scored 20 points, her seventh game of 20-plus points this season and 12th straight game in double figures.

“Keokuk’s rebounding definitely made a difference,” said Compton, whose team entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed. “We need to work on that. Foul trouble was also a problem (three Panthers fouled out). We kept our composure, though, and our effort was good.”

Compton, who scored eight or more points in three of the four quarters, topped 20 points for the first time since the third game of the season.

Palmyra (7-5) had been seeking its first Highland title since 2019 and 15th overall.

“Keokuk just played a great game,” Compton said.

Keokuk reached the finals with wins over Highland (54-44) in the semifinals and Macon (69-55) in the first round. Palmyra downed Canton (57-34) in the semifinals. The Panthers had a first-round bye with their No. 1 seed.

Highland finished third in its own tournament, topping Canton in Friday night’s third-place game 31-29. Canton senior Macy Glasgow reached 1,000 career points in the game.