South Callaway High School was good to Bailey Fischer this season.

Four months ago, the Montgomery County junior forward finished with a double-double to help her team begin its 2021-22 season with a 67-65 win over South Callaway on the road.

On Feb. 26, Fischer had another reason to celebrate at the South Callaway gymnasium. She helped her team win its first district championship in 24 years.

The Wildcats defeated the Hermann Bearcats 56-45 in the Class 3, District 7 championship game at South Callaway. It’s MCHS’ fourth district crown in program history and its first since 1998.

“It means a lot,” Fischer said. “It means more to me that the team’s here with me because I know that one of the goals that we set at the beginning of the season was winning a district championship. So we worked hard to get here. It means so much that I got to do it with these girls.”

The Wildcats advanced to play the Tipton Cardinals in a Class 3 sectional game at 6 p.m. on March 2 at Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia. If they win, they’ll advance to a quarterfinal game against either Elsberry or South Shelby at 6 p.m. on March 5 at Battle High School in Columbia.

“I am excited to play again,” MCHS sophomore Madi Polston said.

MCHS will look to knock off a Tipton team that won 24 games and captured three district titles in the last five seasons.

“We’re going to get out there and we’re going to play just as hard as we did tonight, if not harder,” Fischer said.

The Wildcats improved to 20-7 with the victory over Hermann in the district finals, making it the second year in a row MCHS reached the 20-win mark. They also beat the Bearcats for the fourth time in the last two years.

MCHS, the top seed in the district tournament, came back from a 19-12, second-quarter deficit to knock off its Highway 19 rival.

“I think we were just rushing things,” Polston said. “We were getting nervous. We were freaking out a little bit. But once we calmed down, we were fine.”

Sophomore Malia Rodgers led the Wildcats with 24 points, including 15 in the second half. She gave her team the lead for good with 3:46 left in the third quarter, when she hit a basket to break a 29-29 tie.

Rodgers finished with 38 points in the two games of the district tournament. She scored 14 in the Wildcats’ 55-32 win over North Callaway in the semifinals on Feb. 23.

Rodgers and sophomores Olivia Shaw and Maddy Queathem were the Wildcats’ representatives on the all-district team. Coach Joe Basinger was named the district’s coach of the year.

In the season opener against South Callaway on Nov. 22, Fischer scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. It was the only time this season the junior finished in double digits in scoring.

“That was a great game,” Fischer said. “We all came out strong. I was nervous. After the first couple of minutes, we all settled in and we just played how we usually play as a team.”

The 5-foot-10 Fischer concentrated more on defense for the rest of the season. She’s second on the team in blocks and third in rebounds. She also helped the Wildcats win by double digits 17 times, including the district final against Hermann.

“I feel like I’m a better defensive player,” Fischer said. “I help the team more on defense, so it’s nice.”

Last year, Fischer was a member of a MCHS squad that won 20 games and captured an Eastern Missouri Conference title. But she missed most of the year with a fractured tibia.

Fischer, who earned all-EMO honors in volleyball last fall, said she’s happy that she’s not only injury free, but is part of a successful MCHS team that’s two wins away from the Final Four.

“I have so much love for this team,” Fischer said. “When I step onto the court, it’s not for myself. It’s for the team. I do everything for these girls.”