Despite bittersweet ending, Scott leaves impressive mark at Carl Junction
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. (BVM) – Not many high school basketball players across the country have a career like Katie Scott. A varsity starter all four years, Scott saved her best for last as a senior, averaging 22 points and 12 rebounds, while helping lead the Carl Junction High School girls basketball team to an undefeated season.
Scott began playing basketball around 4 years old and was influenced by her older sister, Megan, who she idolized. The Carl Junction grad praises Megan for helping to bring about her love for the sport.
“I’d have to give a lot of the credit to my older sister, I really wanted to emulate her. That’s definitely part of what brought me into the game,” Scott said.
She also was attracted to the physical nature of the game and being able to beat up on her sister sometimes.
The siblings would get to play as teammates for the Lady Bulldogs across two seasons in 2016-17 and 2017-18. Both campaigns were impressive, with the team going a combined 53-5 over the two years. However, Carl Junction just couldn’t get over the hump that was Incarnate Word Academy, losing to the school in the state semifinals in 2017 and the state finals in 2018.
After what Scott calls a “rebuilding year” in 2018-19, the Bulldogs rebounded in a big way this past season, heading into the state semifinals with a perfect 28-0 record.
“It was amazing to be part of an undefeated team and I think a lot of that came from our mentality of taking it one day at a time and playing each game with a chip on our shoulder,” Scott said. “Each game the mission was to win, regardless of how it happened. We weren’t focused on anything but that present moment.”
But just before the state semifinals in March, news would break that Missouri had canceled the girls basketball Class 4 and 5 state tournament games due to the dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic. A feeling shared by seniors across the country in various sports, the announcement was a heartbreaking moment for Scott.
“It was a bit of shock and quickly turned to tears. But all of our teammates had the exact same thought, that we should get together and have one last practice,” she said.
For Scott’s coach, Brad Shorter, the news was just as difficult.
“It was very tough. We truly felt like this was our year. With the lack of finality and closure, our players, coaches, and their families were left with an incomplete, half-finished, deficient-type feeling,” Shorter said.
In order to try and provide closure, the Bulldogs’ coach held a final practice for the team the day after the cancellation and expressed to the girls that even though they didn’t get to play, he, the school, and the community all saw them as state champions.
It is a tough way to finish a season, but a 28-0 record is certainly something to be proud of. As is Scott’s senior season, which has been rightfully recognized within the state.
In early March, the 6-foot-3 standout was named Gatorade Missouri Girls Basketball Player of the Year, becoming the first athlete from Carl Junction to win the honor. This award is highly coveted not just because it recognizes play on the court, but also academic achievement and character off of it. Those are areas where Scott stands out.
Along with what she does on the court, Scott has found the time to put in the work in the classroom as well and maintains a 4.0 GPA while ranking No. 1 in her class. Her proudest moment academically was being National Merit Commended, and she credits her family and peers at Carl Junction as helps to driving her to this success.
As if basketball and schoolwork don’t keep her busy enough, Scott has also found ample time to volunteer. Her mother is a teacher at a non-profit preschool, and the basketball standout has volunteered there frequently since junior high.
“I see the change she has been able to make in kids’ lives and I think that’s been an amazing thing to witness. It’s special for me to see some of these kids grow up. A couple years later they’ll come back and they’ll be doing great things with their lives and I’m just blessed to be a little part of that,” Scott expressed.
Additionally, she also volunteers at youth basketball camps and loves being able to work with the kids and teach them skills they can use on and off the court.
For Scott, being recognized for all these efforts she has put in and winning the Gatorade Player of the Year Award means a lot.
“It was really a special moment. I feel like I have really done as much as I can on the court, but I have always tried to make school a priority so it felt great to be recognized for that also,” she said.
The honors have not stopped there however. After already being named Central Ozark Conference Player of the Year, Scott was honored with the Miss Show-Me Basketball award, recognizing her as the top girls basketball player in the state. In addition, she was named by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association to the Class 4 All-State team as well as the Academic All-State team. She was also recognized as the Class 4 Player of the Year.
The abundance of accolades show just how impressive Scott is, something not lost on coach Shorter.
“Katie is a great kid. She works very hard at not only basketball, but also her faith, family, core values, and academics,” Shorter said. “She is a great leader to many in our school district and exemplifies what it means to be a Carl Junction Lady Bulldog.”
Scott has mutual admiration and respect for coach Shorter, who has meant a lot to her career.
“Coach Shorter is the absolute best coach I could’ve asked for. I’ve never had a coach that I respected more. He supported us and pushed us and did it in the best way possible,” Scott said.
Playing under Shorter, Scott finished her high school career with 1,874 points, 913 rebounds, 355 assists, and 240 blocks. She is one of the best players Shorter has ever been able to coach, and that goes beyond just the numbers.
“Katie is a brilliant young mind that has a tremendous drive,” Shorter added. “What she has meant most to the program is her consistency, work ethic, and leadership.”
The fomer Lady Bulldog will be playing for a new coach in Molly Miller at Grand Canyon University (GCU) this fall. Scott had multiple college offers, but the commitment process was a challenging one. Initially deciding to play her college ball at Missouri State, a coaching change at the school would lead Scott to change her commitment to Drury University.
But then, a surprise would yet again come Scott’s way as coach Miller left Drury to take over the women’s basketball program at Grand Canyon. After taking some time to decide what she wanted to do this spring, Scott ultimately decided to follow Miller out West.
“It took me several grueling weeks to make the decision to go to Grand Canyon,” Scott said. “I surely never planned on leaving Drury, but I was put in a situation that was out of my control, and I reacted as best I could. I’m thrilled that I still get to play for coach Miller and I have an immense amount of trust in her vision for GCU. They have all the tools in place to be a powerhouse for women’s basketball, and I couldn’t miss out on that opportunity.”
Scott knows she left a talented program at Drury, and will continue to support everyone involved with the team, including new head coach Amy Eagan. The unforeseen challenges in her recruiting process have been difficult, but also beneficial. Now, the senior is ready to get started at GCU.
“No player expects to go through as much as I have before ever reaching college, but this process has taught me so many lessons,” Scott said. “Life is unpredictable, but I know I’ve grown through the adversity I’ve faced. I’m so excited that I have made this decision and while I have several personal goals for my career at GCU, nothing would be greater than making a run in the big dance at the highest level.”
Truly outstanding on the court, and perhaps even more impressive off of it, Scott has left a legacy at Carl Junction that coach Shorter says has led the program to an “elite tier.” There is no doubt her outstanding success will follow her to GCU, and it will be exciting for all of us to get to watch her at the next level come fall.
