Incarnate Word win streak reaches 130 games after victory over Rock Bridge in Missouri Class 6 girls basketball semifinals

Junior guard Nevaeh Caffey scores game-high 22 points in win
Incarnate Word win streak reaches 130 games after victory over Rock Bridge in Missouri Class 6 girls basketball semifinals
Incarnate Word win streak reaches 130 games after victory over Rock Bridge in Missouri Class 6 girls basketball semifinals /

COLUMBIA, MISSOURI – The Incarnate Word girls basketball team is still streaking. 

Led by junior guard Nevaeh Caffey's game-high 22 points and a suffocating defensive effort, the reigning Class 6 champion Red Knights defeated Rock Bridge 65-41 in the Missouri Class 6 semifinals on Friday at Mizzou Arena. 

"I thought our defensive effort was good tonight," Incarnate Word coach Dan Rolfes said. "I thought we were good in spurts on offense, but I thought our defense was pretty consistent. I thought we did a good job defensively and it kind of set the tone for the game."

Rolfes suffered a medical emergency in the parking lot after the game and was rushed to the hospital. His condition is unknown. (Check this post for updates on Rolfes.)

Caffey, who recently committed to Indiana University, scored a game-high 22 points, including four 3-pointers, and added five steals as Incarnate Word recorded its 130 straight victory and earned a spot in Saturday's title game. 

The Red Knights have won six straight state championships – Class 6 in 2021, 2022, 2023 and Class 4 in 2017, 2018 and 2019 – and will face Kickapoo (30-1) in the Class 6 championship game at 6 p.m. Saturday. 

Missouri (MSHSAA) basketball state championships live updates: Day 3 scores, news, stories (3/15/2024)

Senior forward Zoe Best added 15 points and seven rebounds for Incarnate Word (30-0) and junior guard Peyton Hill had 10 points and four assists. Senior forward Abbie Sextro had seven rebounds.

Junior guard Elli Porter led Rock Bridge (25-6) with 10 points, while junior forward Malia Chievous scored nine. Sophomore forward Jayda Porter had five points and 12 rebounds.

Caffey scored 13 points in the first half and Zoe Best added 11 as the Red Knight built a 29-11 lead at the intermission.

Rock Bridge outscored Incarnate Word 13-11 in the third quarter, but the Red Knights pulled away in the fourth with a 25-point quarter. 

"Congratulations to Incarnate. They played a great game," Rock Bridge coach Jill Nagel said. "Tomorrow's (third-place game) not the game we wanted to be in, but it's the game that we're in and we will get regrouped and be ready to go tomorrow. We had a great week of practice. We've had to re-invent ourselves, of sorts, in a short amount of time. 

"We've lost two players who have played significant minutes this season to ACL injuries in the last three weeks – with both being our point guards. I'm extremely proud of this team and what we've done to be able to get to this point."

Kickapoo beats Cor Jesu in Missouri Class 6 girls basketball semifinals

Missouri Class 6 girls basketball semifinal: Incarnate Word - Rock Bridge

Photos by Nate Latsch

Incarnate Word Academy Rock Bridge Missouri girls basketball March 15 2024 Nate Latsch 27284
Incarnate Word Academy Rock Bridge Missouri girls basketball March 15 2024 Nate Latsch 27285
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Incarnate Word Academy Rock Bridge Missouri girls basketball March 15 2024 Nate Latsch 27288
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Incarnate Word Academy Rock Bridge Missouri girls basketball March 15 2024 Nate Latsch 27291
Incarnate Word Academy Rock Bridge Missouri girls basketball March 15 2024 Nate Latsch 27292
Incarnate Word Academy Rock Bridge Missouri girls basketball March 15 2024 Nate Latsch 27293
Incarnate Word Academy Rock Bridge Missouri girls basketball March 15 2024 Nate Latsch 27294
Incarnate Word Academy Rock Bridge Missouri girls basketball March 15 2024 Nate Latsch 27295
Incarnate Word Academy Rock Bridge Missouri girls basketball March 15 2024 Nate Latsch 27296
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Incarnate Word Academy Rock Bridge Missouri girls basketball March 15 2024 Nate Latsch 27312
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- Nate Latsch | latsch@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveMiz


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Nate Latsch, SBLive Sports
NATE LATSCH, SBLIVE SPORTS

Nate Latsch is a Regional Editor at SBLive Sports overseeing high school coverage for Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. A veteran sportswriter and multimedia content creator, Latsch has covered high school sports in the St. Louis area and Missouri for 20 years, with a focus on high school football, basketball, baseball and football and basketball recruiting.  He has worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, STLhighschoolsports.com, the Associated Press, FOX Sports Midwest, MLB.com and Scout.com.  In addition to covering high school sports, Latsch has covered youth, college and professional sports, including covering the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues and St. Louis Rams, the University of Missouri and Saint Louis University.