CABOOL — The Houston Lady Tigers hardly resembled a team that began the season with losses in nine of the first 11 games.
That’s something coach Brent Kell said the players can be proud of.
“We didn’t back down,” Kell said after the Lady Tigers’ 64-49 loss Monday to Seymour in the Class 3 District 2 tournament. “I told our seniors when we left the locker room that I was proud of that.”
After throttling Alton 60-37 in Saturday’s play-in game, Houston more than hung tough with No. 1 Seymour. The Lady Tigers were minutes away from a huge upset.
Houston only trailed 38-36 with 2 minutes, 41 seconds left in the third quarter and had three possessions with the chance to tie the game or take the lead.
Seymour eventually pulled away for a double-digit victory. But Kell was pleased with his team’s performance.
“A lot of times you get into districts and get a team like that, you fold up and cash it in,” Kell said. “I didn’t think these girls did that at all.”
Senior Erica Keeney scored a game-high 24 points in the final game of her career. She was the Houston player in double figures. Tory Burgess, another senior, scored eight.
Seymour hit nine 3-pointers — half of the team’s 18 field goals — against the Lady Tigers’ 2-3 zone defense.
Houston (9-17) finished strong after a slow start to the season. Beginning with a Jan. 22 win against Dora, the Lady Tigers went 7-6 down the stretch. Two of those wins avenged previous double-digit losses to Thayer and Liberty.
The team’s strong play carried over into the postseason. Houston cruised past Alton and threatened to upset Seymour.
“I thought our last eight, nine games were real strong,” said Kell, who completed his 20th season with the Lady Tigers.
“Until we started shooting the ball better from the perimeter and taking care of the ball, we struggled. When we got that figured out, this team was kind of on a roll. I just wish we had more games to play because I think we are playing our best basketball without a doubt.”
Houston trailed by nine early, and the deficit reached double figures midway through the third. It quickly disappeared.
Keeney and Alexa Ichord had consecutive baskets to spark a quick 9-1 run that pulled the Lady Tigers within two points. After Hayes hit a short jumper and converted a free throw, Seymour’s lead was a slim 38-36 advantage.
Kell thought his team wore down as Seymour pulled away early in the fourth. Keeney and Burgess played the entire second half.
“You can second guess yourself,” he said. “One thing I wish we would have done was subbed early in the second half to save some girls for the end.”
In Saturday’s play-in game, Keeney scored 18 points to lead the 23-point victory.
Nine different players scored for Houston, which outscored Alton 33-17 in the second half. Haylee Kell had nine points, Ichord scored eight and Burgess added seven.
Houston raced out to a 17-3 advantage and led 27-20 at the half.
The Lady Tigers were ahead by nine when they scored 11 unanswered points to end the third quarter and take a commanding 43-24 lead.
The win was the third in four games for Houston.
“I give a lot of credit to our seniors,” Kell said of Keeney, Burgess and Kaitlyn Kell. “I don’t think they let those underclassmen let up. I thought they finished strong.”
Box scores
Class 2 District 3
Monday’s game
Houston 10 13 15 11 — 49
Seymour 10 20 14 20 — 64
HOUSTON (49) — Alexa Ichord 6. Tory Burgess 8. Amber Sillyman 6. Erica Keeney 24. Elizabeth Hayes 5. FG 20. FT 5-10. F 22. (3-pointers: Burgess 2, Sillyman 2. Fouled out: Burgess)
SEYMOUR (64) — Hailee Sanders 6. Brittany Sanders 7. Jensen Massengale 7. Ashley Sanders 17. Cassie Sturdefant 3. Braythan Helms 12. Randi Deckard 8. FG 18. FT 15-30. F 16. (3-pointers: ASanders 4, BSanders 2 HSanders, Massengale, Deckard)
Saturday’s game
Alton 8 12 4 13 — 37
Houston 19 8 16 17 — 60
ALTON (37) — Arial Peace 2. Chandra Hollis 4. Molly Steele 2. Rebecca Sec 12. Alex Mills 3. Myranda Reynolds 6. Lacey Hodge 4. Cierra Cawvey 4. FT 10. FT 16-21. F 22. (3-pointers: Mills)
HOUSTON (60) — Alexa Ichord 8. Kaitlyn Kell 2. Tory Burgess 7. Kenzie Scheets 6. Amber Sillyman 2. Haylee Kell 9. Emilee Reese 2. Erica Keeney 18. Elizabeth Hayes 6. FG 22. FT 15-25. F 20. (3-pointers: Burgess. Fouled out: Ichord, Hayes)