COLUMBIA, MO – Cor Jesu knew the competition would be fierce with three perennial powerhouses joining them in the Class 6 state semifinals.
On Saturday, The Chargers proved they belonged.
Rebounding from a lopsided loss to Rock Bridge earlier in the season, Cor Jesu went toe-to-toe with the Bruins for four quarters.
“It shows how much we grew as a team since the last time we faced them,” sophomore Lauren Ortwerth said.
Sophomore Jayda Porter scored 24 points and junior Mari Miller added 13 to lead Rock Bridge to a hard-fought 60-51 victory over Cor Jesu and capture third place in Class 6 at the 2024 Show-Me-Showdown at Mizzou Arena.
“I want to commend Cor Jesu on an excellent season. They are very tough opponent,” Rock Bridge coach Jill Nagel said.
The game took place under a pallor of solemnity with the news of a cardiac medical emergency experienced by Incarnate Word coach Dan Rolfes the previous night. At the time of publication, Rolfes was being treated at University Hospital in Columbia Medical Center.
“Our thoughts are with Dan Rolfes and the Incarnate family,” said Nagel to begin her post-game press conference. “We will continue to keep them close to our hearts and in our prayers.”
After a tough loss to Incarnate Word in a Class 6 semifinal the previous day, Rock Bridge soared to a 19-6 lead against Cor Jesu, powered by a 14-point first quarter by Porter.
“A third-place game is really a battle of wills because obviously you want to be playing in the championship game,” Nagel said. “We wanted to end (the season) the right way, and I’m very proud of this group for the way that we ended it.”
Porter was dominant in the early-going, establishing post-up position deep in the lane and powering Rock Bridge to a 14-0 first-quarter advantage in points in the paint.
“It’s not really just me, my teammates are always looking to get me the ball,” said Porter, who scored her 1,000th point of her career during the explosive Rock Bridge start.
“It’s pretty amazing to get a thousand points your sophomore year,” Nagel said.
Cor Jesu (20-10) trailed by 15 points midway through the second quarter when their defense sparked an 8-0 run. Steals by seniors Makenzie Van Bree and Sophia Bellistra led to breakaway layups and when freshman Madeline DiMaria stepped into a passing lane and went coast-to-coast, the Chargers closed the deficit to 28-21 at halftime.
“We regrouped as a team. We knew that we needed steals and needed buckets to come back from being down,” DiMaria said. “The energy, the environment and cheering each other on helped us.”
An Ortwerth triple early in the third quarter sliced the gap to 30-26 before Rock Bridge (26-6) returned to its bread-and-butter. The Bruins’ relentlessness in the paint helped them go 7-for-8 from the free throw line in the opening four minutes. A Miller drive and Porter post-move pushed the Rock Bridge lead out to nine points.
But every time Rock Bridge tried to run away with the game, Cor Jesu climbed back. A tough drive by senior Paige Dolrenry and a slick drop-step by Ortwerth sliced the deficit to 40-36 late in the third quarter.
“We always say we’re a good third quarter team and we wanted to come out and show that by stringing together a few buckets and getting a few stops,” said Ortwerth, who led the Chargers with 18 points and 6 rebounds.
But in the fourth quarter, Rock Bridge found the range from the perimeter. Junior Malia Chievous, who had not made a field goal before the fourth quarter, drained two deep triples to extend the lead. Junior Ella Porter’s three-ball pushed the gap to 57-47.
“We did a good job in the second half trying to control (Jayda Porter) in the paint, but they have some really good shooters, so hats off to them,” Cor Jesu coach Jen Steinway said.
Strong drives by DiMaria and Ortwerth sliced the deficit to 57-51 and a steal gave the Chargers the ball with 1:13 remaining, but Miller made the most impactful of her six blocked shots to preserve the win for Rock Bridge.
“We’re defensive minded and we knew we had to lock in (defensively) to get the win,” Miller said. “I’m proud of us for sticking together and talking through everything.”
Prior to last season, Rock Bridge had not appeared in a state semifinal since 2017. With a state runner-up finish last season combined with a third-place trophy this year, the Bruins have re-established themselves as a staple at final four weekend.
“It feels great,” Miller said. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished. I know we’re really motivated for next year.”
On Jan. 30 , Cor Jesu lost to Rock Bridge by 24 points in a game that the Chargers trailed 33-7 at halftime. For the Chargers to play so well against the Bruins on the final weekend of the season was extremely meaningful.
“It was always a big goal of mine to make it to state,” said Dolrenry, a senior. “I definitely wouldn’t have expected it at the beginning of the season, but we worked hard for this, and it paid off. I’m so glad I got to experience it with these girls.”
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