Top-seeded South Shelby uses ‘gritty performance’ to reach tournament title game

MONROE CITY, Mo. — If nothing else, the South Shelby girls basketball team proved it is more than a one-man band.

As a result, the Cardinals find themselves in position to win a second straight Monroe City Tournament title.

South Shelby’s high-scoring Callie McWilliams never found her shooting touch Thursday night, but her teammates more than filled the void during a 50-44 semifinal win over Monroe City in front of a crowd of about 750.

McWilliams, a 25.5 points-per-game talent, finished with a hard-earned 16 points but struggled from both the field and at the line. The multi-talented senior point guard — she will defend her state title in the triple jump in the spring — was an uncharacteristic 2 of 9 at the free-throw line and never found any overall rhythm from the floor.

McWilliams’ teammates — most notably Belle Roush, Hannah Gaines and Charlie Roush — stepped up to help protect the Cardinals’ perfect record. 

Belle Roush was an effective presence inside all night, finishing with nine points and six rebounds, while Gaines, who nailed four 3-pointers in the first half, ended with 12 points and five boards. Charlie Roush provided another active figure along the baseline, ending with seven points and five rebounds. 

South Shelby coach Luke O’Laughlin was not surprised, lauding the overall — and sometimes unnoticed — abilities of the rest of the Cardinals’ roster. 

“We don’t know who (the production) will come from on any given night,” said O’Laughlin, whose program has registered 78 wins over the last 3-plus seasons. “This was a gritty performance.”

South Shelby (5-0) advances to meet Palmyra (4-1) in the championship game at 5:15 p.m. Saturday in the 100th edition of the oldest high school tournament in the state. 

The Cardinals are seeking their 17th Monroe City tourney crown. Palmyra is after its 21st title.

Palmyra is also trying to win both the boys and girls titles at Monroe City for a record seventh time.

“We know a lot about each other,” O’Laughlin said of the South Shelby-Palmyra matchup.

Palmyra owns an 18-17 series advantage in the Clarence Cannon Conference rivalry since the turn of the century, including a 6-3 margin in the Monroe City Tournament.

South Shelby kept Monroe City at arm’s length over much of the final three quarters, leading by as many as 11 points with its 31-20 edge at halftime. The Cardinals were on top 49-41 midway through the final quarter, but neither school could mount any sort of offensive surge. They combined for four free throws over the closing four minutes.

Monroe City (5-1) was able to stay within striking distance much of the game thanks to a 22-point performance from Naaron Hays and a combined seven 3-pointers. Hays cashed in four of the 3-pointers.

“We knew we couldn’t allow them to shoot threes, but they were still able to hit a lot of them,” O’Laughlin said.

Monroe City coach Adam Rung had nothing but praise for both schools.

“I give our girls a lot of credit for not quitting, but every time we would make a run, South Shelby would make a big play … and you have to give South Shelby credit for that,” Rung said. “South Shelby just made a few more big plays than we did.”

Ava Potterfield added eight points for Monroe City. Audri Youngblood collected a game-leading seven rebounds.