The Houston Lady Tigers are two wins away from a conference championship.
In a battle of conference unbeatens, Houston got a double-double from sophomore Holly Thomas in a 47-40 victory Thursday night at Ava.
The win moved the Lady Tigers (12-8) to 5-0 in the SCA with two games to play. If they beat Willow Springs on Tuesday – Houston already defeated the Lady Bears by 12 on Jan. 15 – the Lady Tigers will play for their first conference title since 2004 on Thursday at Salem, which is also 5-0 in the SCA.
“I’m hoping we don’t look past Willow and to the Salem game because it won’t be easy,” Houston coach Brent Kell said. “We’ve got to be focused.”
On Monday, senior Trezha Malam scored a season-high 21 points in a 60-53 loss at Hartville.
Houston led by two at the half, but Hartville (15-4) used a 20-11 advantage in the third quarter to pull away.
Malam hit three of the Lady Tigers’ five 3-pointers to go along with four assists and two steals in her best statistical game of the season.
“I’m really happy with Trezha,” Kell said. “If we get her going the way she can play, and consistently, we’re going to be tough.”
Lexie Malam scored 10 points as the only other player in double figures. Thomas was held to seven points on 2-of-12 shooting.
Against Ava, Houston used a 16-5 run in the third quarter to build on a two-point halftime advantage. The Lady Tigers led by as many as 16 points and by 14 with less than one minute left before giving up seven quick points.
The Lady Bears (14-7, 4-1) had won 11 of their previous 12 games.
“It was a big game and I thought the girls were a little nervous, but they didn’t show it,” Kell said.
Thomas led Houston with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Lexie Malam had 10 points, six rebounds and three steals. Trezha Malam added 10 points, five rebounds and four steals.
Kell only used six players and three played the entire game.
“To play a whole ballgame and still be effective at the end, that shows a lot of character out of those girls,” he said. “I’m really proud of them for hanging in there.”
JUNIOR VARSITY: Samantha Edwards scored six points and Courtney Sillyman added four in Houston’s 44-19 loss Thursday at Ava.
Danielle Pounds hit the Lady Tigers’ lone 3-pointer.
On Monday, Houston won by forfeit against Hartville in a game shortened to two quarters.
Edwards scored five and Sillyman had three for the Lady Tigers, who were outscored 20-14.