Houston Lady Tigers coach Brent Kell doesn’t believe in moral victories.
“I really don’t like that term,” he said.
But his team’s performance Monday night had positive implications for the future.
HHS wiped out an early double-digit deficit and forced overtime against Newburg on freshman Jaydin Ramsey’s long jumper at the buzzer. Although the Lady Tigers eventually lost 61-58 inside Hiett Gymnasium, Kell was pleased with his team’s effort.
“We did fight back and showed some character,” Kell said. “It’s a growing process. We knew that going into the season with such a young and inexperienced team. We would have liked to get the win, but I think this will help us down the road.”
The Lady Tigers (2-2) never led. After trailing 15-4 in the first quarter, they tied it at 23-all and pulled even again at 49-49 late in the fourth.
Trailing by two with 1.6 seconds remaining, Houston had the ball under its own basket. Kell called a screen and lob pass to center Sarah Kelley. But when she was double teamed, Ramsey floated to the baseline and drained a 17-foot jumper as time expired to make it 54-54.
Kell lobbied the officials for a game-winning 3-pointer, but it correctly was ruled a long two.
“I knew it was pretty close,” Kell said. “I tried to sell it a little bit, and they didn’t buy it.”
Newburg scored the first basket in overtime and led the rest of the way. Houston has one last chance to tie it when Kylee Elmore shot a desperation 3-pointer from several feet behind the arc that missed as time expired.
“I was thinking after the game that if we had gotten the lead at some point, maybe things would have turned out differently,” Kell said. “We just never got over the hump.”
Kelley scored a game-high 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting and pulled down 10 rebounds to pace the Lady Tigers. Elmore had 12 points and eight assists.
There were 52 total fouls and 62 combined free throws in the game. Three Newburg players fouled out.
The Lady Wolves scored the game’s first seven points and after two Kelley baskets, scored eight unanswered to go ahead 15-4.
Houston pulled within five on senior Kaylea Preheim’s 3-pointer late in the first quarter. The Lady Tigers were behind 23-14 before a quick 9-0 run tied it. Kelley had two baskets during the spurt.
Houston trailed 33-29 at the half.
“I think our youth and inexperience shows at times,” Kell said. “I really feel like a month from now we’ll be a better team. We’re headed in the right direction.”
JUNIOR VARSITY: Emily Shea had five points and 11 rebounds in the JV Lady Tigers’ 31-28 overtime loss Monday to Newburg.
Box score
VARSITY
| Newburg | 19 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 7 – | 61 |
| Houston | 12 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 4 – | 58 |
NEWBURG (61) –– Riley Guffey 7. Mychaela Van Pelt 4. Renate Richardson 8. McKayla Callahan 7. Kelsey Austin 14. Allyssa Dondlinger 10. Seeley Friend 2. Shelby Friend 3. Whitney Sands 6. FG 22. FT 16-34. F 28. (3-pointers: Guffey. Fouled out: Callahan, Austin, Dondlinger).
HOUSTON (58) –– Kylee Elmore 12. Shelby Cremer 9. Sydney Cremer 7. Sarah Kelley 19. Jaydin Ramsey 4. Kaylea Preheim 7. FG 19. FT 17-28. F 24. (3-pointers: Elmore 2, Preheim. Fouled out: none).
JUNIOR VARSITY
| Newburg | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 4 – | 31 |
| Houston | 5 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 0 – | 28 |
HOUSTON (28) – Lizzy Swindell 4. Stephanie Crewse 3. Krista Scott 4. Jaycee Huff 5. Monica Hunter 2. Emily Shea 5. Alyssa Hayes 4. FG 11. FT 4-16. F 20. (3-pointers: Crewse. Fouled out: Hunter).