A free throw, 2 circled games and raining 3's: Behind the biggest win in Battle girls basketball history

Battle's KJ Johnson and Maliyah Miller celebrate after the final buzzer sounds from the Spartans' win over Rock Bridge on Dec. 6, 2022, at Battle High School in Columbia, Mo.
Battle's KJ Johnson and Maliyah Miller celebrate after the final buzzer sounds from the Spartans' win over Rock Bridge on Dec. 6, 2022, at Battle High School in Columbia, Mo.

Dustyn Yung re-entered Battle's gym holding his gray blazer to his side and shaking off some excess water.

He was drenched from the head down, courtesy of a postgame celebration bath, and looked at the court as if the last two hours began replaying right in front of him for his enjoyment. He could barely keep his emotions from overflowing.

"I was crying when we were coming off the court," Yung said. "These kids worked. They're buying into everything, I can't ask for much else. I'm just so proud of them."

Yung's first season leading the Spartans was a historical one. The program had its first-ever winning season in 2021-2022, establishing Battle as an up-and-coming program in a city that holds basketball close to its heart.

Tuesday night earned Battle even more history.

The Spartans beat Rock Bridge 57-56 to earn their first-ever win over the Bruins' girls basketball program. It was a game Battle had circled on its calendar for weeks, but it took an entire season's worth of growth, a senior who couldn't miss and a sophomore that made the biggest free throw in Battle history to earn the most significant win in Spartans' history.

Sophomore Jaleah Brookins hit the back end of her two foul-shot free throws with 1.6 seconds left to lift Battle.

Junior Nautica Washington caught the Bruins' half-court heave as the final 1.6 ticked away.

Battle had finally beaten Rock Bridge.

"We prepared ourselves for this team," senior KJ Johnson said. "We've been working our butts off for this game."

Last season, a seven-point loss in the 2022 California Tournament was the closest the Spartans had come to upending its southside rivals. Tuesday featured Battle weathering the Rock Bridge storm when the Bruins exacted their control on the game with a 56-54 lead with 1:30 left in the game.

Battle forward KJ Johnson (24) runs back down the floor as her teammates celebrate her fifth 3-point make of the night during the Spartans' win over Rock Bridge on Dec. 6, 2022, at Battle High School in Columbia, Mo.
Battle forward KJ Johnson (24) runs back down the floor as her teammates celebrate her fifth 3-point make of the night during the Spartans' win over Rock Bridge on Dec. 6, 2022, at Battle High School in Columbia, Mo.

Battle calmed Rock Bridge's momentum with a bucket and a steal. That set up one last play where Washington dished to Johnson for a layup. Johnson's layup rolled off the rim, where Brookins grabbed the rebound and was fouled.

Her shot missed. She was going to sit at the free throw line with a chance to win the game.

"Nervous and scared," Brookins said. "If I miss it, there's a possibility we could lose the game."

Brookins' first shot fell off the side of the rim. Her second free throw sank right through the net.

"I had to just breathe, take a minute and focus on the shot," Brookins said. "I knew it was going in. It felt great."

That game-winning free throw was just the fifth free throw attempt Battle had all night and the second free throw make for the Spartans. Battle might not have been in a position to win had Johnson not matched the Spartans' five free throw attempts with five made 3-point shots of her own.

Johnson led all with 23 points in a blazing shooting effort.

"The game was lost in the first half, not at the very end," Rock Bridge coach Jill Nagel said. "We didn't take care of some things defensively, and we got to get those shored up."

Jayda Porter scored 21 for Rock Bridge as she asserted herself offensively and defensively in the post. Already an elite shot blocker, Battle needed to make shots from the perimeter to open up any kind of drives to the basket.

Those shots began to fall in the third quarter as the Spartans used a 10-2 run to lead 36-27. Battle guard Tayla Robinson ended the third quarter with a running 3-pointer to beat the buzzer to lead 44-39.

"I'm still in shock," Johnson said. "This year is special. I'm really proud of my team."

Battle head coach Dustyn Yung looks on nervously during the final seconds of the Spartans' win over Rock Bridge on Dec. 6, 2022, at Battle High School in Columbia, Mo.
Battle head coach Dustyn Yung looks on nervously during the final seconds of the Spartans' win over Rock Bridge on Dec. 6, 2022, at Battle High School in Columbia, Mo.

Johnson has seen firsthand how dominant Rock Bridge was over the Columbia basketball scene. She witnessed the Bruins win as a freshman, sophomore and junior. Now, as a senior and Columbia College signee, Johnson's Battle career had led to one more chance at Rock Bridge.

Not even a cut on her forehead slowed her down as she nailed three first-half 3-pointers. That shooting ability regained its confidence after she hit her first three of the season against Blue Springs South last Saturday, missing her first attempts of the season in Battle's first two games.

Against Rock Bridge, she found that rhythm.

"Oh I felt great," Johson said once her shots started to fall. "It's game time. I'm ready to go. I'm hot. I'm ready to lead the team."

The team followed Johnson and it won the two biggest circled games on its calendar. Battle wants to win, but it really, really wanted to beat Blue Springs South, the team that upended the Spartans in districts last season, and Rock Bridge, the team that represented the gold standard of Columbia girls basketball.

Last year, Battle wanted to win those games but wasn't ready. This year, Battle has arrived.

The Spartans have gone from earning attention to demanding respect. Yung exemplified this when he said Tuesday's win was for the community as much as it was for the girls basketball program.

Battle's KJ Johnson and Maliyah Miller celebrate after the final buzzer sounds from the Spartans' win over Rock Bridge on Dec. 6, 2022, at Battle High School in Columbia, Mo.
Battle's KJ Johnson and Maliyah Miller celebrate after the final buzzer sounds from the Spartans' win over Rock Bridge on Dec. 6, 2022, at Battle High School in Columbia, Mo.

"Battle gets written off on a lot of things," Yung said. "There's a lot of positives coming along at Battle. I think some people need to wake up to see that. It's happening within athletics, it's happening within our hallways, everything. Battle's the place to be."

For now, however, it's back to work for Yung. Battle is ready to go back to practice and circle more games on its schedule.

Now, players like Johnson can revel in how far they've brought the program and how far it's still capable of going.

"Watch out for us," Johnson said.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Behind the biggest win in Battle girls basketball history