The Houston Lady Tigers seek the program’s second-ever district championship tonight.
Standing in the way is their biggest nemesis: Licking.
The 2015 Lady Tigers attempt to join the 2004 version as champions. Second-seeded HHS faces top-seeded Licking at 6 p.m. in the finals of the Class 3 District 10 Tournament at Mountain Grove High School.
The title tilt is a rematch of last year’s finale – a game Licking won 59-30 for its second straight district championship.
“We wanted to play Licking one more time and just give it a shot and see what happens,” HHS coach Brent Kell said. “They are an awfully tough team, but we’ll be ready.”
The Lady Tigers (18-9) are 0-3 this season against Licking to account for one third of their losses. But the final meeting was a close call as the Lady Wildcats edged HHS 40-38 on Jan. 31 in the championship game of the Mansfield Invitational.
Houston advanced to the district final with a 63-46 opening-round victory against Forsyth followed by a 55-52 win in the semifinals against Willow Springs.
Licking moved to the championship game with by beating Hollister 63-22 and downing Mountain Grove 44-22.
The matchup will be a battle of 1-2 duos.
Houston is led by junior Sarah Kelley and senior Kylee Elmore. Kelley leads the Lady Tigers with 16 points, 8.9 rebounds and one block per game. Elmore averages 14.8 points, 4.5 assists and 2.3 steals.
Licking (24-4) counters with Bailie Osborne and Megan Smith. Osborne, who scored her 1,500th career point in the semifinal win, averages 15.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks. Smith averages 15.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
Watch the championship game of the Class 3 District 10 Tournament streamed online beginning at 6 p.m. at www.houstonherald.com/live