A sluggish first half was too much for the Houston Lady Tigers to overcome.
HHS fought back from an early 15-point hole but couldn’t completely erase the deficit as the Lady Tigers lost to Dora 53-47 Thursday night inside Hiett Gymnasium.
After beginning the season 5-1, Houston (6-5) has lost four of its last five games.
The Lady Tigers, who never led, got within two points early in the fourth quarter and trailed by three on Alexa Ichord’s offensive putback with 1 minute, 13 seconds left. But their comeback attempt was thwarted by Dora at the foul line.
Alexa Ichord and Kayla Herndon scored 12 points apiece to lead the Lady Tigers. Both players didn’t score in the first half. Kylee Elmore had 11.
There were 43 combined fouls and 58 free-throw attempts in the game. Three HHS starters – Elmore, Amber Sillyman and Kenzie Scheets – fouled out. Dora’s Shelby Collins also fouled out.
After managing just three first-half field goals and trailing 26-13 at the half, Houston made its move in the third quarter.
The Lady Tigers scored 16 points in the first six minutes of the third to pull within 32-29. Herndon, who was inserted into the starting lineup, had six points during the spurt.
Dora managed just one field goal in the fourth quarter. But the Lady Falcons held onto their advantage by going 14-for-16 at the foul line in the final eight minutes.
JUNIOR VARSITY: Sarah Kelley scored 12 points and Makayla Koch added nine as the JV Lady Tigers topped Dora 50-29 Thursday night.
Shelby Cremer added eight points for Houston, which led 27-10 at the half. Autumn Walker and Chloe Morning had six points apiece.
Box scores
VARSITY
| Dora    |  12 |  14 |  11 |  16 |  – |  53 |
| Houston    |  5 |  8 |  19 |  15 |  – |  47 |
DORA (53) – Kelsey Land 17. Monica Kelley 14. Shelby Collins 4. Shelby Harris 11. Laken Collins 3. Lexi York 2. FG 13. FT 22-28. F 20. (3-pointers: Land 3, Kelley 2. Fouled out: SCollins).
HOUSTON (47) -Kylee Elmore 11. Alexa Ichord 12. Sydney Cremer 6. Amber Sillyman 2. Kayla Herndon 12. Kaylea Preheim 3. Megan Silveus 1. FG 13. FT 21-30. F 23. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: Elmore, Scheets, Sillyman).
JUNIOR VARSITY
| Dora     |  4 |  6 |  8 |  11 |  – |  29 |
| Houston   |  11 |  16 |  12 |  11 |  – |  50 |
DORA (29) – Kaitlyn Barnett 2. Chyanne Miller 10. Makenzie Smith 10. Avery Warren 5. Rachel Marchak 2. FG 12. FT 3-4. F 15. (3-pointers: Miller 2. Fouled out: Trail).
HOUSTON (29) – Shelby Cremer 8. Krista Scott 3. Autumn Walker 6. Monica Hunter 4. Chloe Morning 6. Makayla Koch 9. Lizzy Swindell 2. Karissa Zalucky 4. Sarah Kelley 12. FG 22. FT 8-12. F 15. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none).
Watch video replays of the Lady Tigers’ varsity and junior varsity games against Dora at www.houstonherald.com/live.