COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Winning has become more than a habit for this group of Hamilton players.

It's turned into a lifestyle.

Several members of the Hornets' hoops team -- including the entire starting five and a handful of bench players -- have contributed in one way or another to one of Hamilton's five state championships (four in cross country, one in track in 2007).

"I don't like winning as much as I hate losing," Jordan Esry said after her double-double in a semifinal victory. "I just hate losing."

With one more win in Saturday's Class 2 final, the Hornets would pick up their second title in four months and look like a favorite to repeat on the track in Jefferson City this May.

Only a dinged up Westran team stands between Hamilton and a flawless 31-0 record.

"We've made some great history already," senior forward Taryn Bruce said. "We're just hoping for that one last win to keep this thing going."

-- At the end of the first half, Esry's natural instincts kicked in.

The four-time all-state runner took off a 5K clip into the tunnels at Mizzou Arena as her teammates celebrated Ashley Flook's buzzer-beating jumper to end the second quarter. And the senior guard was the first Hornet to buzz out of the tunnel, well ahead of the rest of her team.

"I've just gotta keep moving," Esry said.

Esry's kinetic style of play helped her rip down 10 offensive rebounds (14 boards total), motor to 16 points and dole out seven assists.

"She eats her Cheerios," Bruce said.

-- Saturday's finale will be an all-Hornet affair after Westran's dramatic comeback win.

Westran (30-0) looked to be in dire straights when leading scorers Kayla Rice (sprained ankle) and Becca Schemmer (sprained knee) took separate turns on the trainer's table during a disparaging first-half stretch.

Despite battling limited mobility, the guard tandem returned with force and paced a high-energy comeback in the throughout the second half. Schemmer's jump shot at the third-quarter buzzer gave Westran a lead it wouldn't give back.

"You name it, we've had to hurdle it," Westran coach Gary Dresback said. "Maybe a few extra hurdles are good for us. This team seems to overcome adversity."

Both Rice and Schemmer, who combined for 36 of their team's 51 points, are expected to be in action in the title game.

-- I don't have a very good record of calling my shots, but I nailed one in the final seconds of West Platte's loss.

So did little Levi Middleton.

After draining three 3-pointers from the left corner earlier in the second half, the miniscule South Iron guard drained the decisive, tie-breaking trey with 6 seconds left.

When he started his wide loop that eventually resulted in his clutch 3 -- his fifth of the game -- I leaned over to prep writer extraordinaire Ross Martin and pointed out Middleton's hot shooting from the left side. Mere seconds before he stroked the final bucket. Scout's honor.

Now if I could just use those prognostication skills to rake in Saturday's $275 million Powerball jackpot.

-- 16 teams. 12 hours. Eight games. Seven national anthems. Three-time champs. Two local victories. It all amounts to one long day.