STURGEON, Mo. - The New Bloomfield Lady Wildcats didn't mind sticking around, soaking up and sharing the significance.
The Lady Wildcats had a right to linger - they're headed to the state playoffs.
Top-seeded New Bloomfield didn't shrink when the moments became magnified in a tense and thrilling fourth quarter, surviving for a 62-59 win over No. 2 Eugene in the Class 2, District 8 championship Friday night.
The Lady Wildcats were finally able to relax after they resisted one final heave from Eugene senior guard Lexi Dickerson, who delivered a phenomenal performance. Dickerson's potential game-tying 3-pointer fell harmlessly short of its target with about 3 seconds to play and New Bloomfield was able to run out the clock.
After receiving their district title plaque, the Lady Wildcats mingled on the court in a celebratory mix with their families, friends and fans. New Bloomfield - which also prevailed at Eugene in a 61-49 Show-Me Conference victory Jan. 5 - was making its fourth straight appearance in a district championship, but hadn't brought home a title since 2014.
"I just feel like we had motivation," said Lady Wildcats junior guard Madi Craighead, who tallied all 14 of her points in the second half. "We've been working for this all year. Last year we didn't get it (after District 8 title loss at home to Iberia), so we really wanted it this year.
"We didn't want to feel like we did last year."
New Bloomfield (22-6) - winners of eight in a row - won't have far to travel for its Class 2 sectional game at Mexico High School at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday. The Lady Wildcats will face the winner of Saturday night's District 7 championship between Westran (20-7) and Schuyler County (19-7). Results from that game were not available at press time.
"It's just kind of a relief," New Bloomfield head coach Brett Craighead said. "I think being in it (district championship) and playing in those games the last two or three years kind of helped with this game.
"(The girls) really didn't get caught up in the moment. I'm proud of them. It was a great game to be a spectator."
Eugene (17-11) owned a 42-40 edge Friday night to open the fourth quarter, which served up more than its share of drama and entertainment. The Lady Wildcats tied the game twice and the two teams exchanged the lead five times, before Dickerson drove the lane to put the Lady Eagles in front 51-49 with 4:20 to play.
Senior guard Kate Baxter then triggered a game-altering 10-3 run when her layup pulled New Bloomfield even at the 3:25 mark. After a Eugene miss on its next possession, a drive by Madi Craighead gave the Lady Wildcats the lead for good at 53-51 with 2:57 to go.
Sophomore center Samantha Haas punctuated the run when she converted a 1-and-1 with :57 left, increasing New Bloomfield's advantage to 59-54. The Lady Eagles, though, weren't done and scored on a putback from senior forward Hannah Burks with :46.2 remaining.
Baxter made it 61-56 when she hit both ends of a 1-and-1 with :32 to play, but Dickerson trimmed Eugene's deficit to two points when she buried a 3 with :22 left. Craighead then connected on just one of two free throws with :16 to go, setting up the Lady Eagles with one last chance to force overtime.
It was obvious Eugene would run a play to get the ball in Dickerson's hands for another 3, but the Lady Wildcats did a nice defensive job in extending her deep behind the arc. Dickerson wasn't able to get a clean release on her shot and it didn't even make it to the rim, allowing New Bloomfield to secure its title victory.
"If we'd gotten a four-point lead, I think we would have doubled (teamed) her," Brett Craighead said. "There's that saying, 'Do you foul and make them shoot free throws?' I just hate doing that because then you get a miss and then a rebound, or a foul.
"I said, 'Let's just make her shoot a tough shot and if she hits it, more power to her.'"
Dickerson - a threat both behind the arc and slashing through the lane - produced 23 of her game-high 33 points in the second half, 13 coming in the fourth quarter. She was responsible for five of the Lady Eagles' 10 3-pointers.
"We've had to face her ever since junior high - she's a good player and a great kid," Craighead said. " She can handle the ball and she's 5-(foot-)10 or 5-11, so she can shoot over people and she can also go inside and post up.
"She can finish with either hand - left-handed, right-handed. She's just a good athlete and a good basketball player."
Haas logged 15 of her team-high 23 points in the second half to guide the Lady Wildcats. She left the game briefly after striking her head on the floor near the end of the third quarter, but returned to provide a critical seven points in the final 8 minutes.
"Sammi kept us in it, she had a nice game," Craighead said. "She could do that every night - she's so athletic. She's capable of doing that all the time. She's just a sophomore, so she's getting there."
Senior guard Baylee Garrett added 10 points for New Bloomfield, which now prepares for its return to the state playoffs for the first time in three years.
"They're pretty tough kids," Craighead said. "They've had success from elementary to junior high, to high school. They kind of know how to win - they don't ever quit, they don't ever really get shook.
"I think you could see that tonight. I'm proud of them, the way they fought, competed. The bench was in it. It's great for them."