Cardinal Ritter outlasts Benton in Class 4 3rd Place Game

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KQTV) — In a game full of lead changes, it came down to the final seconds to decide a winner in the Class 4 Girls third-place game.

Benton and Cardinal Ritter were tied at 60 with 20 seconds to go when the Lions knocked down a two-point shot to take the lead, 62-60, and eventually win the game with some free throws down the stretch, 65-60.

The Cardinals led 32-28 at the half, but a 23-point third quarter gave Cardinal Ritter the lead going to the fourth quarter, 51-47.

In the final quarter, it was a back-and-forth contest. Down two with 48 seconds to go, Benton's Jenna Cox hit a shot to tie at 60.

Cardinal Ritter re-took the lead with 20 seconds to go and never trailed again.

Cox led the way for the Cardinals with 19 points and six rebounds. Jalynn Brown added in 14. Eliana Arambula posted 10 points, six boards and nine assists.

"I think it sends a message of the culture that we're trying to build here at Benton when we're disappointed with a 4th place finish. That kind of speaks volumes for these girls and the big goals and the big dreams that they have for themselves," said head coach Rebecca Bailey. "I just wanted them to know how much I love them, how much I appreciate them, how proud I am of them and nothing will ever take that away. They made it to the Final Four. They earned the right to get back down here again, and nobody can ever take that away from them."

"It's been incredible. I think we have a really amazing community that supported us a lot and helped inspired us. Hopefully as much as we've inspired like them because we've always wanted to do it for the community," said Arambula. "Because the South End has really some amazing people. I know that I came to Benton to want to get to the Final Four, and we were able to do it 3 times. So I think it's been pretty successful."

Benton finishes the season with a fourth-place finish in the Class 4 State Tournament. It's the third Top 4 finish in four years for the Cardinals. Benton finished runner-up in 2023 and 2025. The Cardinals finish the season with a 22-9 record.