Steve Overbey The final play was designed for junior Haeli Tart to drive to the basket. Tart did just that but was met by two defenders on the way to the hoop. She calmly dished the ball over to Barringer, who was wide open. The Panthers are starting to pick up steam after losing Jehda […]
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38th Highland Invitational, championship: O’Fallon 53, Nashville 52
OFallon forward Quinn Zerjal passes. OFallon defeated Nashville 53-52 in the championship game of the Highland Girls Basketball Tournament at Highland High School in Highland on Saturday January 25, 2025. Photo by Tim Vizer
Nashville guard Avery Reeder (right) drives past OFallon guard Kennah Barringer. OFallon defeated Nashville 53-52 in the championship game of the Highland Girls Basketball Tournament at Highland High School in Highland on Saturday January 25, 2025. Photo by Tim Vizer
OFallon guard Haeli Tart moves to the basket as Nashville players Avery Reeder (left) and Emma Behrmann defend. OFallon defeated Nashville 53-52 in the championship game of the Highland Girls Basketball Tournament at Highland High School in Highland on Saturday January 25, 2025. Photo by Tim Vizer
“This was a big tournament for us,” Barringer said. “I think we’re showing people that we’re a different team now than we were at the beginning of the season. We’ve improved so much.”
OFallon guard Josie Christopher passes as Nashville guard Summer Brinkmann defends. OFallon defeated Nashville 53-52 in the championship game of the Highland Girls Basketball Tournament at Highland High School in Highland on Saturday January 25, 2025. Photo by Tim Vizer
Junior Emma Behrmann added 10 points for the Hornets, who carry serious Class 2A postseason hopes. Their other two losses were to Missouri power Lift For Life and traditional 2A contender Breese Central.
“That’s my spot, I like the corner and the wing,” Barringer said.
The Panthers also extracted a measure of revenge after losing to Nashville 48-32 in the Mascoutah Holiday Tournament just 28 days earlier.
“We’re ready for anything,” Christopher said.
OFallon guard Haeli Tart (left) grapples for the ball with Nashville forward Claire Stiegman. OFallon defeated Nashville 53-52 in the championship game of the Highland Girls Basketball Tournament at Highland High School in Highland on Saturday January 25, 2025. Photo by Tim Vizer
OFallon players Nakia McCottrell (left) and Josie Christopher double-team Nashville guard Summer Brinkmann. OFallon defeated Nashville 53-52 in the championship game of the Highland Girls Basketball Tournament at Highland High School in Highland on Saturday January 25, 2025. Photo by Tim Vizer
OFallon guard Haeli Tart defends as Nashville guard Emma Berhrmann tries to get a shot off. OFallon defeated Nashville 53-52 in the championship game of the Highland Girls Basketball Tournament at Highland High School in Highland on Saturday January 25, 2025. Photo by Tim Vizer
“This was so fun,” said O’Fallon junior guard Josie Christopher, who led all scorers with 20 points and was chosen as MVP of the tournament. “I was so excited.”
Nashville (19-3), which had an eight-game winning streak snapped, rallied from 14 points down in the final minute of the second quarter to take a 52-50 lead on an old-fashioned 3-point play by junior Summer Brinkmann with 1:55 left in the contest.
Barringer drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lead the Panthers to a 53-52 win over Nashville on Saturday afternoon in the championship game of the 38th Highland girls basketball tournament in eastern Highland.
The Panthers got the rebound and called a timeout to set up one final play.
OFallon guard Kennah Barringer passes. OFallon defeated Nashville 53-52 in the championship game of the Highland Girls Basketball Tournament at Highland High School in Highland on Saturday January 25, 2025. Photo by Tim Vizer
Nashville head coach Dempsey Witte yells in to his team in the waning moments of the game. OFallon defeated Nashville 53-52 in the championship game of the Highland Girls Basketball Tournament at Highland High School in Highland on Saturday January 25, 2025. Photo by Tim Vizer
The teams then traded turnovers to set the stage for Barringer’s heroics.
“I thought we dug ourselves too deep of a hole,” Nashville coach Dempsey Witte said. “We missed some free throws, missed some layups. We were fighting back the whole game and give our kids credit for that.”
And the O’Fallon High junior made the most of that extra opportunity.
OFallon guard Kayla Kalmer dribbles around the key as Nashville guard Avery Reeder moves in. OFallon defeated Nashville 53-52 in the championship game of the Highland Girls Basketball Tournament at Highland High School in Highland on Saturday January 25, 2025. Photo by Tim Vizer
OFallon guard Kayla Kalmer dribbles to the basket. OFallon defeated Nashville 53-52 in the championship game of the Highland Girls Basketball Tournament at Highland High School in Highland on Saturday January 25, 2025. Photo by Tim Vizer
O’Fallon (17-6) won its eighth in a row and claimed the title of the eight-day, 16-team affair for the second time after winning the crown in 2018.
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OFallon guard Kayla Kalmer dribbles towards the basket as teammate Nakia McCottrell sets a pick. OFallon defeated Nashville 53-52 in the championship game of the Highland Girls Basketball Tournament at Highland High School in Highland on Saturday January 25, 2025. Photo by Tim Vizer
HIGHLAND, Ill. — Kennah Barringer was more than happy to get a second chance.
