Gracyn McNiell’s strong play in the paint powered the Houston girls basketball team to its first conference win of the season.
McNiell scored 27 points and grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds – nine on the offensive end – as the Lady Tigers topped Cabool 61-50 on the road Monday night.
Since halting a 16-game losing streak, Houston has won 3 of its last 5 games as the season winds down. The Lady Tigers (4-18, 1-5 SCA) hammered Plato 50-22 on the road last Thursday before losing 71-48 Saturday to Ellington in the Bunker Shootout.
“You know, it’s hard mentally to push through that many losses. But the girls have fought through it and continued to push for a win. And that has paid off here in the latter part of our season where we knew we had winnable games.”
HHS coach Micah Lee
Houston concludes the regular season at home Thursday against Ava. It’s Senior Night for the team’s two seniors: McNiell and Ashley Gilbert.
McNiell, who also had 6 steals, 4 assists and took a second-half charge against Cabool, has 8 double-doubles this season. The senior forward has averaged 22.2 points per game the last 5 outings.
“G had a phenomenal night. She has been nearly unstoppable in the paint,” Lee said. “We’ve really been pushing ball movement in practice and successfully getting the ball inside. We had some really great passes from our guards last night that allowed her to go to work.”
Trailing 12-10 after the opening quarter, Houston had a commanding 22-8 edge in the second to build a double-digit halftime lead at 32-18. McNiell scored 10 in the quarter, including the first of her pair of 3-point plays.
Cabool managed to close the gap to single digits in the fourth quarter, but late baskets from Gilbert and freshman Millie Manier kept HHS in control.
PHOTOS: View images of Lady Tigers’ win at Cabool
Sophomore Izzy Cook scored 10 points and Manier and Gilbert had 8 apiece as Houston scored a season-best 61 points. Claire Benoist added 6 points and point guard Ava Koch had 2 to round out the scoring.
Chloe Overby led Cabool (7-16, 0-6 SCA) with 25 points. Jordanna Atkins added 12.
The Lady Bulldogs had 22 free-throw attempts – compared to 8 for HHS –and converted 13. The Lady Tigers were 7-for-8 at the line.
“Scoring has been one of our biggest challenges,” Lee said. “We’ve talked a lot about big first quarter points and scoring double digits in each quarter. There was a lot against us last night, and getting those big point spreads was crucial for the win.”
In Saturday’s shootout, McNiell had 24 points and 11 rebounds in Houston’s loss to Ellington. Cook hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored 11 points.
Last Thursday, HHS held Plato to single digits in all four quarters to roll to its largest margin of victory this season. McNiell had 16 points and Cook, who hit 2 triples, had 14 to lead the way offensively.
The Lady Tigers led 24-7 at the half and by as many as 30 points late in the fourth quarter.
“I’m really proud of the girls,” Lee said. “They’ve continued to have a positive attitude this season, despite the adversity, and are working hard to get better.”
BOX SCORES
Monday’s game
Houston 10 22 15 14 – 61
Cabool 12 6 12 20 – 50
HOUSTON (61) – Manier 8. Cook 10. Koch 2. Benoist 6. McNiell 27. Gilbert 8. FG 27. FT 7-8. F19. (3-pointers: none).
Saturday’s game
Houston 7 10 14 17 – 48
Ellington 11 17 16 27 – 71
HOUSTON (48) – Manier 5. Cook 11. Koch 2. Benoist 2. McNiell 24. Wilson 4. FG 21. FT 3-5. F 16. (3-pointers: Cook 2, Manier).
Thursday’s game
Houston 11 13 15 11 – 50
Plato 4 3 7 8 – 22
HOUSTON (50) – Mainer 4. Cook 14. Koch 5. Benoist 2. McNiell 16. Gilbert 7. Wilson 2. FG 20. FT 6-10. F 10. (3-pointers: Cook 2, Koch, McNiell).