SHELBY — The first year Scott Sellers coached at Clear Fork the Colts won seven games.
“We got beat up a lot,” Sellers said. “But I think that we learned from that season what it took to put together a winning basketball team.
“It requires some things outside of the season. It requires a bunch of kids buying in and accepting their roles — then it just kind of snowballed,” he said.
The Colts have clearly remained committed.
Top-seeded Clear Fork (22-3) soared to a 61-39 win over No. 2 Willard (17-8) in a Division V district final Saturday at Shelby High School — marking the Colts’ first district crown since 1989.
Clear Fork’s 22 victories this year now stand as the winningest season in program history.
Sellers, who was 9 years old the last time the Colts made it to regionals, said the success is a testament to his players’ hard work.
“This group is pretty special, to do what they’ve done,” he said. “I hope that people can see how special this team has been.”
The Colts will take on Columbus Africentric (17-7) next week in a regional semifinal game at 8 p.m. on Wednesday at Ridgedale High School.
The two-time defending state champs defeated No. 5 Fredericktown on Saturday 46-38.
Redemption
Lillian Weikle did a little bit of everything for her team Saturday.
The do-it-all senior’s 12 points came while she played in the post, but also from around the perimeter when Weikle ran the point.
“She (Weikle) does everything that the team needs to win,” Sellers said. “She just understands the game at a very high level and above that, she’s the best teammate you could ever ask for.
“You cannot win a district championship without kids like Lillian Weikle,” he said.
Saturday night was a surreal feeling for the senior. Weikle was a freshman when the Colts fell short 57-33 in a district final loss to Shelby.
She said that loss four years ago has kept the Colts motivated, never taking their foot off the gas.
“We know it’s a special year and we just don’t want to be done yet,” Weikle said. “We’re just convincing ourselves, each other and everyone who’s watching that we want to be here and go far.”
Watch: Video highlights
Six Colts scored 6 or more
Clear Fork built an 18-10 lead after one quarter and never looked back.
By halftime the Colts led 31-17 and 41-26 after three. A 20-point fourth quarter was the icing on top of a historic night.
Brinley Barnett led Clear Fork with a team-high 13 points. Ashtyn Wine added nine, Elaina Pelkey and Hailly Thrush scored seven each and Mel Blubaugh had six. Asia Bechtel hit a three-pointer and Quinn Stover and Rozy Stover both finished with two.
Photo gallery:
Clear Fork to face two-time defending state champs
No player on the Colts roster has made it to regionals.
Clear Fork is set to face one of its biggest challenges to date when the Colts collide with 10-time state champion Africentric next week.
Blubaugh, the Division V District 6 Player of the Year, said nerves are inevitable, but the Colts refuse to take these moments for granted.
“I think we’re all very confident and I think we’re going to play our game either way,” she said.
Sellers echoed similar sentiments as his senior star. He said making it this far has been Clear Fork’s goal all along.
“We want to compete for conference championships and state championships,” he said. “The girls understand that and they understand what goes into that.
“This is our first step towards getting to where we want to be as a team and a program. It’s a good first step to win at Shelby against this Willard team, that I thought played an excellent game,” Sellers said.
