Swashbuckling spot in title game: Pirates to play for Lenzini championship for first time since 1977

PALMYRA, Mo. — The last time Hannibal’s girls basketball team played in the finals of the Tony Lenzini Tournament was way back in the 1976-77 season. 

“I wasn’t even born yet,” current Hannibal coach Shawn Gaines was quick to point out.

Hannibal’s title-game drought will end Saturday when the Pirates return to the finals for the first time in 48 years, seeking their first Lenzini championship in the 82-year history of the tournament.

Hannibal earned its potential date with destiny when the No. 4-seeded Pirates downed top-seeded and host Palmyra 60-54 in Wednesday night’s semifinals.

In the finals, Hannibal (9-4) will play the winner of Thursday’s 7:30 p.m. matchup between No. 2 seed Highland (16-2) and No. 3 seed Monroe City (11-2). Monroe City is the defending tournament champion. Highland last won the title in 2012.

“Obviously, winning this tournament is important,” said Gaines, who feels his club will need a repeat performance of what it demonstrated against Palmyra. “Our girls kept the defensive intensity high all night. We’ve been preaching that all season.”

The heart and soul of Hannibal’s charge was easy to spot, from both her emotional play on the floor to her bottom line in the scorebook. Junior guard Malia Stolte scored a Pirates-best 21 points, including 14 in the second half and eight in the decisive fourth quarter.

Hannibal led 47-44 entering the closing eight minutes, but Palmyra (9-7) was never able to reduce that three-point spread, thanks in part to Hannibal’s 9-of-12 showing at the foul line. Stolte was 6 of 8 at the stripe in the final period.

Hannibal had lost 15 of its last 16 games with Palmyra.

“Our energy was great all night, from the players on the floor to the players on the bench,” Stolte said. “We try not to look at the scoreboard, we just try to keep our intensity high and play hard. Every day we just try to get better.”

Zaria Reese, a hard-working inside presence despite standing just 5-foot-9, collared a school-record 18 rebounds and scored 12 points for Hannibal. Reese flourished in and around the baseline, handling most of the physical play in leading the Pirates to a 41-30 rebounding margin.

“That’s Zaria’s game,” Gaines said.

Lyla Dorsey added 11 points for Hannibal.

Sydney Compton scored 25 and Clare Williams added 14 for Palmyra. The two seniors have averaged in double figures since their sophomore seasons, but both struggled with consistency Wednesday night. 

“This was not Sydney and Clare’s best game, and when they struggle, we struggle,” Palmyra coach Kelsey Stuart said. “Our girls played hard and I was proud of that, but we had too many turnovers and we didn’t rebound very well.”

No Palmyra player outside of Compton and Williams scored more than five points.