Danielle Pounds scored 11 of her 14 points in the third quarter to help the Houston Lady Tigers pull away from Cabool 49-18 Tuesday night at the Lady Panther Tournament.
Holly Thomas also scored 14 points for Houston, which defeated Willow Springs 45-34 in Monday night’s opening game to snap a five-game losing skid. The Lady Tigers will face Mountain Grove for the tournament championship at 8:30 tonight (Thursday).
Houston (5-9) only led Cabool by four points at the half. But a 22-0 third quarter put away the Lady Bulldogs.
“We’re playing teams we feel like we can definitely play with” Houston coach Brent Kell said. “But we’re still not playing to our potential.”
Pounds nailed three of her four 3-pointers in the pivotal third quarter. Kate Harper scored seven points for Houston, and Stephanie Dukes added five.
Starting point guard Kendra Welch, who is suffering from a knee injury, was limited to two points in less than one half of play. Kell said Welch isn’t practicing with the team to rest her knee and hopefully won’t be sidelined.
“Kendra is playing through pain right now,” Kell said. “She really is the key to our team.”
In Monday’s tournament opener against Willow Springs, Welch hit four 3-pointers en route to a team-high 16 points. Thomas added 15 for Houston, which used a 17-10 second quarter to lead by eight points at the half.
Freshman Erica Keeney, who moved up to the varsity team for the second half of the season, scored six points.
Welch and freshman Sarah Pierce, who suffered a concussion earlier in the week, both missed Thursday’s 45-42 loss at Mountain View-Liberty.
Thomas and Pounds scored 10 points apiece for the Lady Tigers, who led by three entering the final quarter. Dukes scored eight points.
“We’re still searching for an identity and what combination of kids to play together,” Kell said. “I’m trying to find the combination that works best offensively and defensively.”
Tuesday’s Game
Houston 5 9 22 13 – 49
Cabool 7 3 0 8 – 18
HOUSTON (5-9) – Moore 1 0-0 2. Pounds 5 0-0 14. Honig 1 0-0 2. Welch 1 0-0 2. Thomas 7 0-1 14. Dukes 2 1-2 5. Harper 2 3-7 7. Pierce 0 1-2 1. Keeney 1 0-0 2. Totals 14 5-12 49.
CABOOL – Vanallman 0 1-2 1. Davis 1 0-0 2. Chappell 2 1-2 7. Richardson 1 0-0 2. Reaves 3 0-0 6. Totals 7 2-4 18.
3-pointers: Houston 4 (Pounds 4); Cabool 2 (Chappell 2).
Monday’s Game
Houston 5 17 11 12 – 45
Willow Springs 4 10 7 13 – 34
HOUSTON (4-9) – Moore 1 0-0 2. Honig 1 0-0 2. Welch 5 2-4 16. Thomas 4 7-11 15. Dukes 1 0-0 2. Pierce 0 2-2 2. Keeney 3 0-2 6. Totals 15 11-19 45
WILLOW – Mooney 1 0-0 3. White 2 2-2 6. Chapman 2 6-8 10. Roberts 2 0-0 4. Williams 1 2-3 4. Lind 0 5-8 5. Girdler 0 2-4 2. Totals 9 17-25 38.
3-pointers: Houston 4 (Welch 4); Willow Springs 1 (Mooney).
Thursday’s Game
Houston 12 7 11 12 – 42
Liberty 7 10 10 18 – 45
HOUSTON (3-9) – Pounds 4 0-0 10. Honig 2 0-0 4. Thomas 7 6-10 20. Dukes 2 4-6 8. Totals 15 10-16 42.
LIBERTY – Goff 3 2-2 11. Miller 0 1-2 1. Riddle 4 4-9 12. Laymen 3 4-6 10. Stephens 0 2-4 2. Spencer 3 3-4 9. Totals 13 16-27 45.
3-pointers: Houston 2 (Pounds 2); Liberty 3 (Goff 3).
