Lady Tigers flatten Warrensburg, improve to 17-3

Saturday, February 14, 2015
Greg Kepler/Daily Mail/ Nevada center Rilie Good zeroes in on guard Mikayla Bartlett (22) as she posts up a Warrensburg player Friday night at Wynn Gym. Bartlett finished with nine points.

The Lady Tigers of Nevada and Warrensburg met in a fast-paced dual at Wynn Gymnasium Friday night, with Nevada triumphing 58-39.

With the victory, the Lady Tigers improve to 17-3 (7-2 West Central Conference).

Senior center Rilie Good easily controlled the tip off and fellow senior Morgan McNeley wasted little time getting in the scoring column, draining her first basket of the night just five seconds into the contest.

Greg Kepler/Daily Mail/ Lady Tigers sophomore Chloe Bartlett looks to make a pass Friday night as Nevada head coach Brent Bartlett looks on from the far sideline.

A few seconds later, another senior, Mikayla Bartlett drained a trey and Nevada jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead with less than 30 seconds expired.

Not to be outdone, Warrensburg's Mackinsey Cunconan answered with a pair followed by a 3-pointer from Mariah Wilbanks two minutes later, knotting the score at five all.

Chloe Bartlett gave Nevada the lead back with the second of two free throws, only to see Cunconan sink a trey and give the visitors an 8-6 edge.

Mikayla Barlett was fouled and made the second charity toss. A minute later, Warrensburg's Jaclyn Davis added a triple of her own giving the visitors an 11-7 lead. However, those would be the last points of the quarter for Warrensburg. Mikayla Bartlett hit another 3-pointer with a minute left and, with just seconds left in the first quarter, McNeley hit a jumper giving the home team a 12-11 lead at the first quarter buzzer.

The teams ran neck-and-neck for much of the second quarter. Four quick points from Cunconan gave Warrensburg a 15-12 lead but a free throw from Chloe Bartlett and a deuce from McNeley tied the score at 15-15 with 5:45 showing on the first half clock.

Cunconan made it 17-15 with two from the stripe, but Good got into the book with a pair, knotting the score at 17-17. Katie Taylor added two for Warrensburg before Nevada went on an 11-0 run.

McNeley started it with a free throw before Madi Culbertson drained a three and set the frenzy in motion. A free throw and a trey from McNeley and another charity toss from Chloe Bartlett gave the hosts a 28-19 advantage at halftime.

Nevada came out shooting to open the second half and continued their scoring run, adding five more points before Warrensurg could get a shot to fall their way. Nevada held the visitors to just seven points in the third period while adding 16 to their tally.

Good owned the quarter, laying claim to 10 of those points. Nevada forwards Megan Payne and Jansen Miller added a free throw each while McNeley added four.

Both teams continued to play with intensity in the final frame, but Nevada's lead and persistence was too much for the guests to overcome. Miller, Megan Hold, Mikayla Bartlett, and Good combined for 10 points while McNeley and Culbertson each sank two free throws in the fourth quarter, while holding the visitors to 13 points, giving Nevada a decisive 19 point victory.

Warrensburg's Cunconan led all scorers with 23 points. Nevada's high-scorer was McNeley with 18, including a trey and 7 of 8 from the charity stripe. Right behind her was Good with 16, all field goals from two-point land. Mikayla Bartlett added nine, Madi Culbertson five, Chloe Bartlett four, Miller three, Hold two, and Payne one.

Next up

The Lady Tigers hit the road to face El Dorado Springs, Tuesday, with junior varsity action slated to tip off at 6 p.m.

NHS Boys game

The Nevada boys basketball team fell 67-42 to Warrensburg on the road Friday night.

Nevada center Clay Gayman scored 10 for the Tigers.

Nevada (7-13, 2-7 WCC) next face Butler at home, Tuesday, with the freshmen and junior varsity games scheduled to tip off first.

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