WARRENSUBURG — As the final seconds ticked off the clock, the mass of Bulldog faithful began to rise to their feet to give their team a standing ovation.

Down on the court in the middle of the University of Central Missouri Multipurpose Building, it was a much different scene. There was no jubilation. There were a few hugs, a few high fives but not much else.

The Kearney boys basketball team had just earned a berth in the Class 4 Show-Me Showdown. Yet, there was a sense that the Bulldogs weren’t ready to celebrate.

"Four down. Two to go," senior Nate Bitner said simply about the team’s postseason aspirations.

Even the more outspoken Tyler Funk found himself short on words after the Bulldogs’ convincing 54-33 state quarterfinal victory Saturday, March 6, against Warrensburg.

"It feels great, but I’m not going to lie though," senior Tyler Funk said. "I think all of us are still hungry. We’re still focused to get the job done."

Kearney will have the chance to do exactly that this weekend at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. That’s when the last four surviving teams in Missouri will battle it out for the Class 4 state championship.

"We’re back where we want to be, but there’s still work to be done," Kearney coach Gary Belcher said. "Now we have to go and take care of business down there."

Belcher’s team takes the next step toward a state title in the semifinals at 8:20 p.m. Friday, March 12, against Republic. Defending state champion St. Francis Borgia and Soldan International Studies will meet at 6:40 p.m. in the other semifinal.

If the Bulldogs expect to play Saturday, March 13, for a state title, they know exactly what it will take. It’s the one thing they have relied on all season long — defense.

"Defense has been something that picks us up," senior Austin Thomas said. "Defense wins championships. We say it over and over again, and it’s true. That’s our No. 1 thing."

The numbers speak for themselves. Opponents have mustered only 1,042 points against the Bulldogs in 29 games this season, an average of less than 36 points per game. Only five times has Kearney surrendered 50 points or more. As a team, the boys have swiped 447 steals (15.4 per game) while collecting 117 blocked shots (4.0).

The numbers only get more impressive during the postseason — the most important games of the year. Kearney held its last three opponents — Staley in the District 15 championship game, Platte County in sectionals, and Warrensburg in the quarterfinals — to a combined 116 points (less than 39 per game).

And in each game, the Bulldogs locked down their opponents’ offenses for long stretches which allowed them to take over in each game.

"It’s a big credit to our coaching staff, first of all," Funk said. "They prepare us well. When we get our matchups, we know exactly what everyone does well. We know what we need to do to stop our guy.

"Overall, we play great team defense. That’s something we’ve always stressed from the very beginning. Defense wins championships, and we’ll be back at Mizzou Arena with another chance to win one because of our defense. That’s why we’re here."

By time the Bulldogs mingled with their fans after the quarterfinal win, that fact finally started to sink in. And despite their lack of on-court celebration, they certainly took the time to enjoy the moment.

"This is awesome," Thomas said. "This is what we wanted from the very beginning. This is what we’ve worked for. We knew we could get there. We just had to work hard to get there. It’s reality now. We’re here."

Sports writer Chris Geinosky can be reached at 389-6654 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .