The Houston Lady Tigers made coach Brent Kell a winner in the first triple-overtime game of his 25-year career.
Sophomore Alexa Ichord scored all 16 of her points in the fourth quarter and overtime periods to lead Houston past Mansfield 68-66 Friday night in the Mansfield Tournament.
The following day, the Lady Tigers faded down the stretch of a 46-35 defeat to Thayer in the consolation final.
Senior Erica Keeney led three players in double figures with 25 points against Mansfield. Tory Burgess added 12.
Kell said he had played in a triple-overtime game but never coached one. Until Friday.
“After you get to that point, you want to win it,” Kell said. “It was really exciting. The kids and the crowd really got into it.”
Houston led by as many as five points in each overtime period. Mansfield erased those deficits in the first two overtimes with timely 3-pointers. Jordyn Lodge hit five of her team’s eight triples.
“I felt like we were outplaying them,” Kell said. “I’ve never seen a game with more timely 3-pointers. It seemed like every time they needed one, they knocked it down.”
Behind 25-20 at the half, the Lady Tigers (4-13) slowly chipped away at the deficit to force overtime. Each team scored five points in a sluggish first overtime and had 10 points in the second overtime.
Houston outscored Mansfield 8-6 in the third overtime to win it.
Kell praised his sophomores for leading the way late. Keeney, Burgess and Elizabeth Hayes — all seniors — fouled out.
“I thought our sophomores really did a nice job in overtime,” Kell said. “I was really proud of them.”
The following afternoon, Houston managed just six second-half points against Thayer. The Lady Tigers led by nine in the first half.
“The girls were exhausted,” Kell said. “They were just really, really tired. I don’t like to use that as an excuse, but I think it had something to do with it.”
Keeney had a team-high 12 points. Burgess added eight.
Houston had a 17-12 lead after the opening quarter. Thayer rallied for a two-point halftime advantage and never trailed the rest of the way.
“We used so much energy that (Mansfield) game that we didn’t have much left the next day,” Kell said.
Box scores
Saturday’s game
Houston 17 12 4 2 — 35
Thayer 12 19 9 6 — 46
HOUSTON (35) — Alexa Ichord 4. Tory Burgess 9. Kenzie Scheets 2. Amber Sillyman 4. Haylee Kell 2. Emilee Reese 2. Erica Keeney 12. FG 13. FT 6-6. F 18. (3-pointers: Burgess 3. Fouled out: Ichord, Haylee Kell)
THAYER (46) — Mullins 16. Eckman 7. Burrell 2. Hargus 9. Martin 8. Cabrales 4. FG 19. FT 7-13. F 11. (3-pointers: Mullins)
Friday’s game
Houston 13 7 12 13 5 10 8 — 68
Mansfield 12 13 10 10 5 10 6 — 66
HOUSTON (68) — Alexa Ichord 16. Tory Burgess 12. Kenzie Scheets 6. Amber Sillyman 3. Haylee Kell 4. Erica Keeney 25. Elizabeth Hayes 2. FG 24. FT 14-32. F 25. (3-pointers: Burgess, Sillyman. Fouled out: Burgess, Keeney, Hayes)
MANSFIELD (66) — Emily Neal 4. Mikiah Moore 7. Kendra Woolman 7. Jordyn Loge 17. Brittany Cruse 17. Jessica Berry 8. Sharice Dennis 6. FG 21. FT 15-31. F 23. (3-pointers: Loge 5, Cruse 2, Moore. Fouled out: Woolman)
The Lady Tigers’ game Monday against Thayer has been rescheduledfor Friday, Feb. 18. Thursday’s home game against Liberty has beenpostponed as well. A new date will be announced soon.