Houston Lady Tigers coach Brent Kell hopes his team can regroup after a tough start to the second half of the season.
After dropping three games in five days at the Rolla Tournament, the Lady Tigers struggled Monday night in a 73-46 road loss at Thayer.
Houston ended the first half of the season with an important SCA victory and 3-4 mark. But four losses in six days dropped the Lady Tigers to 3-8.
The good news for Houston: it can turn its season in the right direction with four upcoming games over an eight-day span.
“We’re struggling a little bit,” Kell said. “We’ve got to regroup. We have games coming up that we can definitely win.”
Junior Kendra Welch hit four 3-pointers en route to a team-high 17 points against Thayer. Holly Thomas scored 14.
Thayer’s Micah Stevens scored a game-high 27 points.
The game was tied 15-all before Thayer outscored Houston 21-9 in the second quarter for a double-digit halftime advantage. The Lady Bobcat’s lead stretched to 21 points entering the fourth quarter.
“We didn’t do a good job handling their pressure,” Kell said. “We’re definitely tired. You could tell the entire second half that our legs were heavy.”
At Rolla, the Lady Tigers missed 17 of their 23 free throw attempts Saturday night in a 39-34 loss to Newburg.
Thomas led Houston with 13 points and Welch had 11, including three triples. Houston made seven more field goals than Newburg. But the Lady Tigers’ struggles at the line cost them a much-needed victory.
Houston opened round-robin play Wednesday with a 62-44 loss to Sullivan.
Thomas led the Lady Tigers with 17 points. Welch hit three 3-pointers en route to 13 points and Kate Harper scored 10.
Sullivan led 19-11 after the first quarter and by 15 at the half.
“I’d say they shot between 65 and 70 percent,” Kell said. “That’s not exaggerating. They shot lights out.”
Friday night against Rolla, Houston rallied from an early 17-7 deficit before losing 53-51 at the buzzer.
The Lady Tigers, who lost to Rolla 65-37 Dec. 6, had an opportunity to win the rematch. They had possession of the ball in the final 10 seconds with the game tied. But Houston missed its potential game-winner and Rolla scored on the other end to survive.
Harper led the Lady Tigers with 17 points. Thomas added 11 points in the loss.
“I saw some good things at Rolla,” Kell said. “Then we turn around and take two steps back.”
Houston travels to Liberty tonight before next week’s Mountain Grove Family Pharmacy Tournament. The Lady Tigers face Willow Springs, Cabool and Mountain Grove in four days.
Monday’s Game
Houston 15 9 11 11 – 46
Thayer 15 21 20 16 – 73
HOUSTON (3-8) – Moore 0 2-6 2. Pounds 2 0-0 6. Welch 6 1-2 17. Thomas 6 2-5 14. Dukes 1 0-0 2. Harper 1 3-4 5. Totals 16 8-17 46.
THAYER – Stevens 11 3-4 27. Hebert 3 0-2 6. Adams 2 0-0 6. Earls 3 0-1 6. Oaks 2 3-5 7. Cabrales 4 3-4 11. Hunt 4 2-6 10. Totals 29 11-22 73.
3-pointers: Houston 6 (Welch 4, Pounds 2); Thayer 4 (Stevens 2, Adams 2).
Saturday’s Game
Houston 6 11 9 8 – 34
Newburg 6 11 8 14 – 39
HOUSTON (3-7) – Moore 1 0-3 2. Pounds 0 0-3 0. Honig 0 0-2 0. Welch 4 0-0 11. Thomas 5 3-11 13. Pierce 1 0-0 3. Keeney 1 3-4 5. Totals 12 6-23 34.
NEWBURG – Snodgrass 0 1-2 1. Ellzey 1 6-12 9. DeLong 1 4-4 6. Wheeler 0 2-2 2. Richmond 3 3-6 9. Lair 0 2-2 2. Wells 0 4-4 4. Sands 2 1-4 3.
3-pointers: Houston 4 (Welch 3, Pierce); Newburg 1 (Ellzey).
Friday’s Game
Houston 7 10 17 14 – 51
Rolla 17 8 17 11 – 53
HOUSTON (3-6) – Pounds 3 0-0 9. Honig 1 0-0 2. Welch 3 0-0 8. MKell 1 0-0 2. Thomas 5 1-3 11. Harper 6 5-7 17. Pierce 0 2-2 2. Totals 19 8-12 51.
ROLLA – Bramel 4 1-1 9. Carter 2 0-1 4. Rogers 4 1-2 11. Okafor 1 2-2 4. Hagni 4 2-10 12. Steele 2 1-2 5. Rightnawar 3 0-2 6. Parry 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 7-20 53.
3-pointers: Houston 5 (Pounds 3, Welch 2); Rolla 2 (Rogers 2).
Wednesday’s Game
Houston 11 11 12 10 – 44
Sullivan 19 18 13 12 – 62
HOUSTON (3-5) – Pounds 1 0-0 2. Welch 3 4-4 13. MKell 0 0-1 0. Thomas 5 7-11 17. Dukes 1 0-0 2. Harper 5 0-2 10. Totals 15 11-18 44.
SULLIVAN – Bouckart 2 0-0 5. Tiefenbaus 0 0-2 0. Pyrtle 5 0-0 14. Richardson 3 1-4 7. Bartolotta 3 0-0 8. Parks 10 6-7 28. Totals 23 7-13 62.
3-pointers: Houston 3 (Welch 3); Sullivan 9 (Pyrtle 4, Bartolotta 2, Parks 2, Bouckart).
