The Houston Lady Tigers could only stall for so long.

Facing the 10th-ranked team in Class 3, HHS slowed the pace against Liberty with a four corners offense that was designed to drain the clock. It worked for awhile.

The Lady Tigers were down just five points early in the second quarter before Liberty scored 39 of the next 45 points to pull away for a 58-26 victory Monday night inside Hiett Gymnasium.

HHS (3-8, 0-2 South Central Association) managed just one field goal in both the second and third quarters as a close game turned into a blowout. Liberty (13-2) went on a 12-2 run to end the first half and outscored the Lady Tigers 27-4 in the third for a commanding 38-point advantage.

Sophomore Jaden Stell connected three times from downtown en route to a team-high 15 points. Ally Morgan added seven points and Madison Curtis had four as the only other Houston players to score.

{{tncms-inline alignment=”right” content=”<p>•Thursday: Cabool at HHS girls, 6 p.m.</p> <p>•Monday: HHS girls vs. Thayer at Thayer Winter Classic, 7:15 p.m.</p> <p>•Tuesday: HHS girls vs. Mammoth Spring at Thayer Winter Classic, 7:15 p.m.</p>” id=”13c7aed5-d995-44c1-855b-2810ed0aac08″ style-type=”bio” title=”UPCOMING GAMES” type=”relcontent” width=”half”}}

Wichita State recruit Piper Francis led Liberty with 15 points.

JUNIOR VARSITY: Stell scored nine points –– all in the first quarter –– in the JV Lady Tigers’ 43-32 loss Monday night to Liberty. Hannah Dzurick added five.

BOX SCORES

VARSITY

Liberty 14 12 27 5 –– 58

Houston 6 5 4 11 –– 26

HOUSTON (26) –– Madison Curtis 4. Ally Morgan 7. Jaden Stell 15. FG 9. FT 5-8. F 17. (3-pointers: Stell 3. Fouled out: Curtis).

JUNIOR VARSITY

Liberty 14 16 6 7 –– 43

Houston 11 8 3 10 –– 32

HOUSTON (32) –– Emily Weaver 2. Jordyn Lay 3. Kelly Hubbs 3. Lexie Spratt 2. Hannah Durick 5. Lilly Amick 4. Jaden Stell 9. Riley Scheets 2. Annie Topping 2. FG 12. FT 4-9. F 18. (3-pointers: Stell 3, Lay. Fouled out: Sarah Purcell).

•Thursday: Cabool at HHS girls, 6 p.m.

•Monday: HHS girls vs. Thayer at Thayer Winter Classic, 7:15 p.m.

•Tuesday: HHS girls vs. Mammoth Spring at Thayer Winter Classic, 7:15 p.m.