Lift for Life tops Chillicothe in overtime in Missouri Class 4 girls basketball semifinal showdown

Sophomore Zha'Viarra Harris scores career-high 32 points

COLUMBIA, MISSOURI — The Lift for Life girls basketball team is headed back to the state championship game thanks to a career game from sophomore guard Zha'Viarra Harris.

Harris scored a career-high 32 points to lead the Hawks to a thrilling 85-77 overtime victory against Chillicothe in the Missouri Class 4 semifinals on Wednesday night at Mizzou Arena.

Lift for Life (27-3), which won the 2021 Class 3 championship, will play Park Hills Central (27-4) in the Class 4 title game at 8 p.m. Thursday. Park Hills Central defeated Lift for Life, 46-42, in the Class 4 quarterfinals a year ago to punch its ticket to state.

Sophomore guard Diamond Polk scored 19 points for Lift for Life and freshman guard Amaya Manuel added 16 points and seven rebounds.

Chillicothe senior guard Jolie Bonderer, who is headed to William Jewell next year, led the Lady Hornets (27-2) with a career-high 36 points and added nine rebounds and nine assists. Elizabeth Oliver, a junior forward, added 14 points.  

Lift for Life led 19-16 after one quarter and 38-33 at halftime before Chillicothe outscored the Hawks 21-16 in the third quarter to tie the score. 

Each team scored 15 points in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime, but Lift for Life dominated the extra four-minute frame, outscoring the Lady Hornets 16-8.

Park Hills Central uses second-half surge to beat Owensville in Missouri Class 4 girls basketball semifinals

Missouri Class 4 girls basketball semifinals: Lift for Life - Chillicothe

Photos by Nate Latsch

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- Nate Latsch | latsch@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveMiz