Chiefs feeling right at home at Highland Tournament, upend Cougars in semifinals

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Keokuk forward Kendra Boatman, left, looks for space while being defended by Highland's Addy Abell during Wednesday night's semifinals of the 53rd Highland Tournament in Lewistown, Mo. | Addi Zanger photo

LEWISTOWN, Mo. — Matt McGhghy is learning to enjoy that 45-mile commute.

The second-year Keokuk (Iowa) girls basketball coach has brought his team to the Highland Tournament for the past two seasons and has yet to taste defeat.

Third-seeded Keokuk’s latest victory came in Wednesday night’s 54-44 semifinal conquest of second-seeded Highland. That victory sets up a rematch of the 2024 championship game with Palmyra, which toppled Canton 57-34 in the other semifinal.

“I love this tournament,” McGhghy said. “We get great competition. It’s always a challenge, and always a rollercoaster. You learn how to adjust to adversity.” 

Keokuk certainly took a ride on that aforementioned rollercoaster, but was able to survive the adversity to reach the finals of the 53rd Highland Tournament, scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday. Keokuk will bring a 7-3 record to the game, Palmyra, the No. 1 seed, shows a 7-4 mark. Keokuk downed Palmyra in last year’s title tilt 48-40.

Getting to this year’s championship rematch was no walk in the park for the Chiefs, who used a 16-0 run to build what looked to be a commanding 48-29 advantage early in the fourth quarter.

Highland (11-2) responded with five straight 3-point field goals to move within 48-44 with 2 ½ minutes to play. Unfortunately, the Cougars never scored again and the Chiefs padded their margin with six straight free throws to improve their overall record in the Highland event to 5-0.

Kendra Boatman, a 5-foot-8 junior, poured through 25 points, including eight of the points in Keokuk’s decisive 16-0 run in the second half. 

“Boatman is our floor general,” McGhghy said. “She’s a great shooter and she’s a great passer, and she really likes to get out (in transition).”

Palmyra coach Kelsey Stuart envisions Saturday’s game as a potential classic.

“Keokuk plays a physical style, and that’s what we like,” Stuart said. “I’m excited. I’m also excited to get to play an out-of-state team.”

Highland, whose only other loss was to Palmyra (48-43) in the Monroe City Tournament in early December, put three players in double figures but was outscored in three of the four quarters.

Highland coach Ashton Jaco lauded her club’s comeback, but admitted the third-quarter hole the Cougars dug wound up being too much to overcome. Keokuk outscored Highland in that period 18-8.

“You can get yourself back in the game by hitting threes, but the third quarter was the difference,” Jaco said. “We just  kind of stopped doing what we had (worked on), and we did not communicate well on defense.”

Keera Rothweiler (12), Chevie Sharpe (11) and Addy Abell (10) combined for 33 of Highland’s points. Rothweiler swished three of Highland’s six 3-pointers.

The Cougars had been seeking their first title in their own tournament since 2012.

“We’ll learn from this loss,” Jaco said.

Highland faces Canton (7-5) at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the tournament’s third-place game.

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