Rock Bridge Bruins Defeat Helias Lady Crusaders 66-49

Strong third and fourth quarter starts propel Rock Bridge to victory in Central Missouri Activities Conference matchup

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The Rock Bridge Bruins used strong starts to the third and fourth quarters to defeat the Helias Lady Crusaders 66-49 in a Central Missouri Activities Conference girls basketball game on Friday night. Helias led 26-24 at halftime, but Rock Bridge took the lead for good with an 8-0 run to start the third quarter and then pulled away in the fourth quarter.

Why it matters

This game was an important conference matchup between two of the top girls basketball teams in the area. Rock Bridge's win keeps them undefeated in conference play and improves their overall record to 19-6, while Helias drops to 10-15 on the season.

The details

Rock Bridge scored the first four points of the game to help Jayda Porter reach the 2,000-point mark in her career. Helias responded with a 3-pointer and a layup from Jayli Howell to take the lead, but the teams traded points for the rest of the first quarter which ended tied at 13. Helias closed the second quarter on a 6-0 run to take a 26-24 lead into halftime, with Howell scoring 11 of her game-high 19 points in the first quarter. But Rock Bridge took control in the second half, opening the third quarter with an 8-0 run and then scoring 11 of the first 13 points in the fourth quarter to pull away.

  • The game was played on Friday, February 27, 2026.
  • Rock Bridge ends its regular season at 19-6 overall, 7-0 in the conference.
  • Helias (10-15, 3-4) will start Class 5 District 5 Tournament play on Monday against Lebanon.

The players

Jayda Porter

A player for the Rock Bridge Bruins who scored the first four points of the game to reach the 2,000-point mark in her career.

Jayli Howell

A player for the Helias Lady Crusaders who scored a game-high 19 points, with 11 coming in the first quarter.

Isla Alfultis

A player for the Helias Lady Crusaders who scored 12 points in the game.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This game showcased the strong girls basketball programs at both Rock Bridge and Helias, with Rock Bridge's depth and second-half surge proving to be the difference in the conference matchup.