COLUMBIA, MO – Constant motion.
That is the signature of an Incarnate Word offense that dazzles opponents with speedy dribble handoffs, surprise back screens and subtle slips to the basket.
It is also an apt description of the girls basketball program in general, which continues to stay one step ahead of its competition, year after year.
Incarnate Word won its ninth consecutive state title with a hard-fought, 50-46 victory over Staley in the Class 6 championship game last Saturday during the 2026 Show-Me Showdown at Mizzou Arena.
The Red Knights (29-2), which won by the smallest margin of victory of any of their nine successive title games, found a way to stave off a Staley team primed to dethrone them.
“We knew Staley was coming for us. We knew that we had to stay connected as a team, play with a lot of energy, and focus on the little details,” Incarnate Word senior Peyton Olufson said.
Staley (29-3) tied the score three times in the second half only to see Incarnate Word untie it on the following possession.
Staley sophomore Logan Bennett tied the game at 29 with a right wing three. Olufson drained a triple out of a timeout to reclaim the lead. Staley junior Destiny Manyawu converted a putback to tie the game at 34. Addi Owen untied it with a right-wing three on the following possession.
“It’s deflating. You come down, hit a shot, tie it up and then they come down and bury a three,” Staley coach Mike Bennett said. “You did what you wanted to do, you chipped away, you got it tied up, and then literally the next possession they hit a shot. It takes your momentum, it takes your energy.”
Olufson and Owen connected on three-pointers to give Incarnate Word a 43-37 lead midway through the fourth quarter, and the Red Knights’ constant motion took center stage. A spread-the-floor, dribble handoff clinic ensued and drained almost three minutes off the clock.
“It’s something we work on – late game situations with the lead,” Incarnate Word coach Dan Rolfes said. “That’s just something we’re going to run and if we get a wide open look or a layup we’ll take it, if not, we’re just going to keep on running it over and over and over. It wasted over two minutes, which benefitted us.”
Olufson and Owen combined to hit 7-of-8 free throws in the final 1:01 to secure the Red Knights’ ninth consecutive title and 16th in program history.
“It’s even more rewarding because it was a battle the whole game,” Owen said. “It feels pretty special when you can have a bit of a rough game and still pull out a win. I’m proud of us. We worked really hard for this.”
The 5-foot-3 Owen signified the resiliency of Incarnate Word, which faced a highly prepared Staley team that lost to the Red Knights 55-41 in the state title game last season.
The Falcons forced five turnovers in the first quarter, three by Owen, and quashed many of the bread-and-butter plays that Incarnate Word normally executes with precision.
“All the actions that they run, it’s not necessarily a particular set, it’s a down screen, it’s a flair screen, it’s a back screen, it’s a pin-in, so all year long, we worked on (defending) those kind of actions and tried to make sure we were sound and solid on those actions to prepare for this kind of game,” Bennett said.
Owen took her first shot attempt on a breakaway layup that beat the first quarter buzzer and gave Incarnate Word a 16-15 lead. Her second shot attempt was a three-point missile with 35 seconds remaining in the first half that put the Red Knights ahead 27-22 at intermission.
“I had a really rough start, but that’s what is so special about this team. They are all on me, not beating me down but building me back up. They trust me, I trust them and that trust eventually got me going in the game,” said Owen, who finished with 16 points on just six shot attempts.
But Staley was equally ready. Manyawu, who had not made a three-point basket all season, swished a triple from the top of the key with no hesitation.
“We’ve been talking about it all year. We’ve never had any reservations about her shooting it, but she doesn’t necessarily get that opportunity since we love having her around the rim because of her offensive rebounding ability,” Bennett said. “There was no hesitation on our end when she shot it. I was happy with the shot and happy for her.”
Manyawu was brilliant on both ends of the floor, scoring nine points, adding 12 rebounds and helping to hold Incarnate Word leading scorer Nevaeh Lucious to two points on 1-of-8 shooting.
“Holding Lucious to two (points), that’s tough. She’s really, really good,” Bennett said. “I thought our physicality on that side was really good, and Destiny getting around and fronting, taking some of the passes out of the air was fantastic.”
It was the rare occasion that Incarnate Word had more turnovers (13) than assists (11), but despite playing only its third game decided by single digits, the Red Knights excelled during crunch time.
A beautiful drive and left-handed delivery from senior Savannah Stricker to Olufson behind the three-point arc started the Red Knights’ fourth quarter excellence. An Olufson drive and kick out to Owen increased the lead to six points and allowed Incarnate Word to be in constant motion – its signature.
“We just had to stay calm, stay together and stay connected. We can’t be too high or too low. We have to be right in the middle,” siad Olufson, who finished with 15 points, and went 4-of-6 from behind the arc.
Rolfes added, “We tried about everything and they defended it pretty well, but we founded our program on defense, and in a game like this, when the ball is not going in (the basket), our kids were able to grind it out and make enough plays down the stretch.”
For a photo gallery from this game, click this link: https://benvessa.smugmug.com/2023-24-Girls-Basketball/Girls-Basketball-2025-26/Incarnate-Word-vs-Staley-Class-6-champ