Lady Tigers fall to Stockton in tournament play

Thursday, February 4, 2010
Nevada senior Lauren Klinksick scores two points during Wednesday's loss to the Stockton Lady Tigers. --Ralph Pokorny/Daily Mail

"I think this is the first time we've gotten tired all year." As head coach Brent Bartlett's Nevada Lady Tigers varsity basketball team got their quest for a fifth Nevada Classic tournament championship back under way in a make-up contest Wednesday night, they appeared to have met their match in terms of overall energy.

The Lady Tigers of Stockton came into Wednesday night's contest with an overall record of 12-3 on the year and showed right from the start of the night that they were not afraid to play the same up-tempo style that Bartlett's Lady Tigers have become accustomed to. For the first time all season, Bartlett's strategy of wearing the opposition down with fast-paced play and multiple player rotations almost seemed to backfire as Stockton cruised to a 55-38 victory.

"They really are a good basketball team," Bartlett said of the opposition. "We want to play teams like that."

The two teams were originally scheduled to square off in semifinal action on Jan. 29, but Mother Nature had other plans, forcing the game to be pushed back. But when the time came for the two teams to meet, Stockton proved to be very much up to the challenge as they grabbed the lead early and never looked back.

In a game that featured four ties and two early lead changes, neither team got a decided advantage throughout the early minutes.

The two teams looked to be very evenly-matched throughout the first half and Stockton was only able to gain a slight edge, outscoring Nevada by just one in each of the first two periods to take a 26-24 lead into the locker room at the half.

That all began to change very quickly in the second half, however, as fatigue seemed to take their toll, allowing Stockton to slowly open up the game. Stockton wasted little time capitalizing on that fatigue, forcing six Lady Tiger turnovers in the third quarter alone and outscoring Nevada by eight points in the frame to build a 10-point lead at 45-35 heading into the final 8 minutes.

"It's time to quit some of the things the girls have been doing," Bartlett said. "Some of the turnovers, throwing it (the ball) away, not being aware."

That lack of awareness continued for the Lady Tigers throughout the remainder of the game and Stockton eventually worked it's way to an 18-point win by a final score of 55-38.

Sophomore Tiffani Long led the offensive effort for Nevada as the only player in double figures with 18 points. For Stockton, three players finished in double figures, led by Kaitlan Cramer with 19 points, followed by Chayla Rutledge with 15 and Ashli Burton with 13.

Neither team shot well from the field on the night as Nevada made just 15 of 52 shots (28 percent) while Stockton went 18-for-49 (37 percent).

With that loss, the Lady Tigers fell to 12-5 on the year, while Stockton improved to 13-3. Stockton will now move on to face either Carthage or Raymore-Peculiar in the tournament championship game on Feb. 13, while Nevada falls into the third place contest.

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