Third time not a charm for Lady Tigers

Nevada sophomore Afton Baldwin is blocked by McDonald County senior Kaisha Murphy during Saturday's Class 4, District 12 tournament championship game in Carl Junction. McDonald County raced out to a 35-12 halftime lead and never trailed as they ended Nevada's season 63-50. [Click to enlarge]

Nevada Daily Mail

Strike three and the Nevada Lady Tigers are out.

After falling to the McDonald County Lady Mustangs twice during the regular season, Nevada was trying to change its fortunes in the Class 4, District 12 basketball tournament, Saturday at Carl Junction.

Unfortunately, the Lady Mustangs did not cooperate as they dominated early and held on for a 63-50 victory, winning the district title.

Nevada started the game in a triangle-and-two defense, hoping to slow down the inside-outside duo of Deanna Goddard and Kaisha Murphy. The strategy worked in that the two players combined for only four first-quarter points.

However, the Lady Mustangs proved to be more than just a two-man show.

Valerie Pruitt and Kim Gann picked up the slack, exploiting the gimmick Lady Tiger defense for a combined 14 first-quarter points as the Lady Mustangs opened up an 18-5 lead.

In the second quarter Nevada changed defenses but that just allowed McDonald County to balance out the scoring as seven different players got on the board in the period and the Lady Mustangs scored 17 second-quarter points.

Making matters worse for Nevada was a cold-shooting first half, as the Lady Tigers trailed 35-12 at the break.

In the second half the Lady Tigers finally broke out of their scoring depression, as seniors Hillary Adams and Lacy Leonard teamed up to score 25 points but it was not enough for second-seeded Nevada to overtake the top-seeded Lady Mustangs.

Nevada closed the gap to 11 when Adams hit a 3-pointer with 3:00 to play in the game.

That was as close as Nevada would get though, as McDonald County answered with five straight points to put the game away.

Nevada outscored McDonald County 38-28 in the second half, but could not overcome the 23-point deficit in the first 16 minutes.

Nevada coach Brent Bartlett said it was just a case of too little, too late.

"When you play against McDonald County this year, you have to be in attack mode early," Bartlett said.

McDonald County's half-court trapping defense made it tough on Nevada in the early going, as they limited shot opportunities.

"Our two leading scorers didn't get many shots (in the first half)," Bartlett said referring to Adams and Leonard. The two seniors combine to average more than 35 points per game, but were held to only four points in the first half.

"Mac County is awfully good and well coached," Bartlett said. "We knew they were athletic and they stepped up."

Bartlett thought the slow start was aided by his team putting a lot of pressure on itself.

"They were a little tight," he said. "(In the second half) we moved better. They played like they didn't want it to end, but it was just too late."

Bartlett said the loss should not put a damper on the successful season the Lady Tigers (20-7) have enjoyed.

"When you win the Carthage tournament and win our own tournament and to win 20 games at this level with the conference we're in, that is a heck of an accomplishment," he said. "It says a lot about the girls."

Saturday's game was the final one for four Nevada seniors. Adams, Leonard, Katie Rice and Chanelle Braun all will be graduating in the spring.

"We're going to miss our seniors," Bartlett said. "They've laid an awesome foundation for our younger kids."

Adams had 17 points to lead all scorers, while Leonard added 12.

McDonald County had four players in double figures, led by Goddard's 16 points.

McDonald County improved to 23-4 this season and they will represent the district in the sectionals at Missouri Southern State University Wednesday, where they will take on Ozark.

The winner will move on to the state quarterfinals in Springfield against the winner of the Bolivar-Mexico sectional game.