Beshore pours in 24 as Lady Tigers fall to Providence Academy in KANG Invitational third-place game

Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Nevada freshman guard Alison Bower drives hard to the basket Saturday against William Chrisman High school. See page 8 for full story
Matt Resnick | Daily Mail

A sterling 24-point performance from Lady Tiger sophomore point guard Calli Beshore helped No. 2 seed Nevada erase an early-double-digit deficit against the fifth-seeded Providence Academy (Ark.) Patriots in the KANG Invitational third-place game Saturday afternoon in Frontenac, Kan. It wasn’t enough, however, as Providence Academy used its distinct size advantage on the interior to pull away late for a 62-52 victory.

Nevada (9-6) was slow out of the gate, trailing 10-2 midway through the first, and 24-12 at the conclusion of the opening frame.

A second quarter offensive explosion, however, handed the Lady Tigers a 34-31 halftime advantage. In the second quarter, Beshore dropped in 11 of her game-high 24, while fellow sophomore guard Payge Dahmer added seven, including a pair of 3-pointers.

Beshore led all scorers at the break with 17 points.

Providence Academy opened the third on a quick 4-0 spurt to regain the lead at 35-34. Nevada freshman guard Alison Bower then replied with a trey from the right wing, putting the Lady Tigers in front, 37-35 with 4:45 left in the third. The seesaw battle continued, with Patriots playmaking point guard Faith Curry tying the contest at 37-apeice on a slashing drive and lay-in.

The Lady Tigers final lead of the afternoon came courtesy of a pair of Beshore free throws with 20 seconds remaining in the third, as Nevada led 43-42. Providence Academy then closed out the frame with a close-range score from 6-foot center Haley Kate Webb, to go on top 44-43 entering the fourth. Webb then opened the fourth with another score from the low post, handing the Patriots a 46-43 advantage.

Providence Academy’s lead then stretched to five as power forward Jonisha Rolle scored from the right block. A Bower drive-and-score with 3:43 remaining in regulation trimmed the Providence lead to 51-47. That was as close as Nevada would get, as the Patriots closed out on an 11-5 run.

Dahmer, who knocked down 10 treys during the three-day tournament, in addition to winning the 3-point contest, was named to the KANG Invitational All-Tournament team.

“I was proud of the girls, especially in the second quarter with how they competed,” said Nevada head coach, Brent Bartlett. “We knocked down some shots in the second quarter and really got the momentum back.”

Added Bartlett: “We might have run out of steam in the second half. But these types of games will help us to improve. I hope this carries over and that we can compete in conference-play like we did here. Mentally and physically, I think we can take a lot from this game.”

Bartlett discussed Beshore’s performance.

“I thought Calli needed that,” he said. “As a matter of fact, she’s been frustrated with her shot over the last couple of games — because she’s a perfectionist. It was good to see her come out and score like she did tonight.”

Beshore has earned a reputation as one of the premier perimeter defenders in the West Central Conference.

“Even if Calli isn’t scoring, what she does for us both offensively and defensively is so great because she’s the quarterback of our team,” noted Bartlett. “I’m really proud of her.

In the girls’ tournament championship game Saturday evening, top-seeded Christian Heritage Academy (Okla.) bested No. 3 seed William Chrisman, 49-32.

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