Strafford ended the first half with 21 unanswered points Monday and cruised past the Houston Lady Tigers 50-35 at the Mountain Grove Tournament.
The Lady Tigers led 13-10 before Strafford’s rally turned the three-point lead into an 18-point deficit.
“I watch the (University of Missouri) go on runs like that to end the half and wonder what the other team is doing,” Houston coach Brent Kell said. “Boy, there was nothing we could do.”
Houston (4-8) rebounded Tuesday night with a 41-36 overtime victory against Dora in the second day of the tournament. The Lady Tigers had previously lost by 11 points to Dora on Jan. 5.
HHS started strong in the tournament opener against Strafford. But the Lady Indians, who defeated Houston 44-34 in the second game of the season, switched to a zone defense and went on a 21-0 run that turned a small deficit into a huge lead.
“Their coach told me after the game, ‘We couldn’t guard you. We haven’t even practiced zone,'” Kell said. “It wasn’t a great zone. We just couldn’t shoot.”
Freshman Kylee Elmore scored 10 points as the lone HHS player in double figures. Elmore and Alissa Bowlin hit two 3-pointers apiece for the Lady Tigers, who managed just two second-quarter points.
Last Thursday, Elmore scored a team-best 17 points in a 56-42 loss at Mountain Grove.
Bowlin added eight points for Houston, which was outscored 18-4 in the second quarter and trailed by 20 at the half.
“We’ve got to play with more enthusiasm — almost to a desperate state,” Kell said. “We’ve got to play harder and do things we need to do to be successful — win the loose ball battle and hold our own on the boards.”
Kell said he is waiting for the players to assume the responsibility of turning around the season.
“We haven’t put it together yet,” he said. “I keep waiting for someone to take charge and lead us. I have a couple seniors that are talking, but they have to lead us on the court as well.
“We’re still looking for those couple players to step up and say, ‘Enough is enough. Let’s change this thing around.'”
JUNIOR VARSITY: Sierra Weaver scored 10 points and Kaylea Preheim added nine in the JV Lady Tigers’ 35-23 loss Monday to Strafford at the Mountain Grove Tournament.
On Thursday, Megan Silveus scored a team-best 10 points in Houston’s 35-30 loss at Mountain Grove.
Box scores
VARSITY
Monday’s game
Mountain Grove Tournament
| Houston | 11 | 2 | 11 | 11 | – | 35 |
| Strafford | 9 | 22 | 11 | 8 | – | 50 |
HOUSTON (35) — Alexa Ichord 4. Alissa Bowlin 6. Kylee Elmore 10. Kenzie Scheets 2. Amber Sillyman 3. Haylee Kell 2. Kayla Herndon 4. Elizabeth Hayes 4. FG 12. FT 6-9. F 19. (3-pointers: Bowlin 2, Elmore 2, Sillyman. Fouled out: none).
STRAFFORD (50) — Hutchinson 6. Oberbeck 9. Bernskoetter 4. Graffis 10. Quick 2. Jackson 7. Rowden 8. Clements 4. FG 17. FT 14-21. F 10. (3-pointers: Hutchinson, Oberbeck, Graffis, Rowden. Fouled out: none).
Thursday’s game
| Houston | 5 | 4 | 9 | 24 | – | 42 |
| Mountain Grove | 13 | 18 | 14 | 11 | – | 56 |
HOUSTON (24) — Alexa Ichord 4. Alissa Bowlin 8. Kylee Elmore 17. Amber Sillyman 5. Sydney Cremer 4. Elizabeth Hayes 4. FG 16. FT 5-14. F 19. (3-pointers: Elmore 3, Bowlin, Sillyman. Fouled out: none).
MOUNTAIN GROVE (56) — Feston 8. Peterson 4. Hale 6. Fox 4. Rogers 5. Collins 5. Halford 8. Dugger 8. Shannon 4. Pridemore 4. FG 16. FT 24-29. F 16. (3-pointers: Collins, Dugger. Fouled out: none).
JUNIOR VARSITY
Monday’s game
Mountain Grove Tournament
| Houston | 7 | 7 | 4 | 5 | – | 23 |
| Strafford | 2 | 13 | 12 | 8 | – | 35 |
HOUSTON (23) — Maggie Shelton 2. Sierra Weaver 10. Kaylea Preheim 9. Nora Dixon 2. FG 9. FT 4-6. F 9. (3-pointers: Preheim. Fouled out: none).
Thursday’s game
| Houston | 6 | 10 | 5 | 9 | – | 30 |
| Mountain Grove | 8 | 8 | 16 | 3 | – | 35 |
HOUSTON (30) — Sierra Weaver 6. Maddie Vandiver 4. Kayla Guynn 3. Kaylea Preheim 2. Nora Dixon 5. Megan Silveus 10. FG 11. FT 7-8. F 17. (3-pointers: Dixon. Fouled out: Vandiver).
