Houston Lady Tigers coach Brent Kell said the play of seniors Kendra Welch and Holly Thomas is key to his team’s success.
Against Mountain Grove, they were both on top of their game.
Welch scored 10 points during a key 20-2 third-quarter run and Thomas had another strong game on the interior to lead the Lady Tigers past Mountain Grove 51-34 Monday night.
Welch and Thomas scored 15 points apiece as Houston (6-7, 2-0 SCA) won its second straight game following a four-game losing skid.
“Kendra and Holly make us go. If one of them is off, we’re not as good. If they’re both off, we’re probably going to lose the ballgame,” Kell said. “When they are playing well, we’re pretty good. We’re not an average team when they are playing well – we’re above average.”
The Lady Tigers only led 22-19 before the key third-quarter spurt, which included a pair of 3-pointers by Welch and triples from Shelbi Moore and Tory Burgess. Welch’s layin with 33 seconds left in the quarter put Houston ahead 42-21.
The perimeter was open after a strong first half by Thomas and sophomore forward Erica Keeney, who scored 13 points.
“They missed shots and we made shots. Really, it’s as simple as that,” Kell said. “The only change we made is we were going inside and back out for wide-open looks.”
On Saturday, Thomas scored 18 points and Burgess hit three first-half 3-pointers to lead the Lady Tigers past Fox 53-23. The win was the team’s first since beating Buffalo Dec. 27 in the opening round of the Lebanon Holiday Tournament.
Keeney scored 12 points and Burgess had all 11 of her points in the first half for Houston, which led 31-9 at the break.
“Defense the past two games has been a key,” Kell said.
The previous night, Lindbergh outscored the Lady Tigers 22-14 in the second half en route to a 34-26 victory.
Thomas had 10 points as the lone player in double figures for Houston, which led 14-12 at the half. Welch, who scored seven points, and Burgess each hit 3-pointers.
Monday’s game
Mountain Grove 5 12 4 13 – 34
Houston 13 9 20 9 – 51
MTN. GROVE – Hiler 2 0-0 5. Atchison 0 0-3 0. Halford 1 0-0 2. Masterson 0 1-2 1. Slayton 2 2-2 7. Harker 5 0-0 10. Short 2 0-0 4. Williams 2 1-2 5. Brown 1 0-0 2. Totals 15 4-9 34.
HOUSTON (6-7) – Moore 1 0-0 3. Burgess 1 0-0 3. Welch 5 2-2 15. MKell 1 0-0 2. Thomas 4 7-8 15. Keeney 6 1-4 13. Totals 18 10-14 51.
3-pointers: Mtn. Grove 2 (Hiler, Slayton); Houston 5 (Welch 3, Moore, Burgess).
Saturday’s game
Fox 7 2 10 4 – 23
Houston 11 20 8 14 – 53
FOX – Heilmann 5 4-6 14. Davis 1 0-0 2. Mays 0 1-2 1. Pointer 1 0-0 2. Suter 2 0-0 4. Totals 9 5-8.
HOUSTON (5-7) – Moore 1 0-0 3. Pounds 2 0-0 4. Burgess 4 0-0 11. Welch 1 0-1 3. MKell 0 2-2 2. Thomas 7 4-5 18. Keeney 4 4-5 12. Totals 10-13 53.
3-pointers: Fox 0; Houston 4 (Burgess 3, Welch).
Friday’s game
Lingbergh 7 5 12 10 – 34
Houston 6 8 4 8 – 26
LINDBERGH – Ubriaw 1 2-2 4. Blair 3 0-4 8. Casey 8 4-6 12. Bozdeck 4 2-2 10. Totals 16 8-14 34.
HOUSTON (4-7) – Moore 0 1-2 1. Pounds 1 0-0 2. Burgess 1 0-0 3. Welch 2 2-2 7. Thomas 8 2-2 10. Keeney 1 1-4 3. Totals 13 6-10 26.
3-pointers: Lindbergh 2 (Blair2); Houston 2 (Burgess, Welch).