Lady Tigers survive, move to 3-0 in SCA

The Houston Lady Tigers survived. Barely.

HHS built a double-digit fourth quarter lead and held on for a 53-52 victory Thursday night against Willow Springs inside Hiett Gymnasium.

The Lady Tigers (11-4) improved to 3-0 in the South Central Association to keep their goal alive of winning the conference. But it wasn’t easy.

“I’ve watched a lot of basketball over the years. Things don’t always go as planned – like blowing an 11-point lead down to one,” HHS coach Brent Kell said. “But we came out with a win, and we move on. We’ve still got everything in front of us. 3-0 is the best we can be and right where we want to be.”

Houston led 51-40 with 4 minutes, 2 seconds remaining when Sarah Kelley made one of two free throws following a technical foul against Lady Bears coach D.J. Gutscher, who was arguing a no-call on a blocked shot.

The Lady Tigers, who had blown a similar situation – leading by double digits in the fourth quarter – the last time they played Willow Springs, went to a stall approach. It burnt some time, but almost didn’t work.

Beginning with a basket with just over three minutes remaining, the Lady Bears went on a 9-0 run that concluded Kianna Rothermich’s 3-pointer that made it 51-49 with 42 seconds remaining. Houston turned the ball over on the ensuing inbound pass and missed a breakaway layup on the next possession, but Willow Springs couldn’t capitalize.

Kelley sealed the victory with two free throws with 5.6 seconds left. They proved to be important as Rothermich drained a triple as time expired.

“We tried some things in the fourth quarter that almost backfired,” Kell said. “At the same time, we ran off some time and gave our kids a chance to rest. It worked, but I don’t know if it put us to sleep. We became passive and tried not to lose instead of going and winning the ballgame.”

The third matchup of the season proved to be the tightest in a series of close games. Houston won the first meeting by three points and the Lady Bears won the second by three.

“We know it will be a battle every time we play them,” Kell said. “You’ve got to give Willow credit. They made all the plays when they needed to.”

Kelley led three HHS players in double figures with 18 points. Jaydin Ramsey added 14 and Abby Casper had 10.

Rothermich hit four of Willow Springs’ six 3-pointers en route to a team-best 18 points. Beth Sherbo scored 15 points.

Kell, midway through his 30th year with the Lady Tigers, was on the sidelines for the first time since announcing his retirement at the conclusion of the season. Assistant coach John Jordan is also stepping away from coaching.

“We’re both kind of tired,” Kell said. “It’s time to step away and let some new blood take over.”

Kell said he asked Jordan to become head coach for at least one year to help transition the program. Jordan declined, and Kell said he understood.

“He does a tremendous job with our post players and motivating kids,” Kell said. “I can’t say enough about what he has meant to this program and his dedication to me.”

Behind eight first-quarter points from Casper, Houston led 16-14 after the first quarter. The advantage grew to seven points as Kelley scored twice –– including once while being fouled –– on the interior to start the second.

Ramsey, who scored 12 points in the second, drilled a triple before the half to put Houston ahead 34-27.

“I thought at halftime that we had played our best half of the year,” Kell said. “I told them those were some big-time passes they were making. They made some really nice plays.”

It was back-and-forth in the third quarter as neither team could gain momentum. After a Sherbo 3-pointer, Ramsey converted a layin as the teams traded baskets on seven possessions. Houston finally momentarily took control as senior Makayla Koch drilled a 3-pointer from the right corner and scored under the basket to turn a four-point lead into a 49-40 advantage entering the fourth quarter.

Koch scored all five of her points in an important 33-second sequence.

“I’ve watched her over, over and over be able to hit those shots,” Kell said. “She’s probably had the best practices of any of our players the last week. The hard work she is putting in is paying off.”

Houston didn’t have a field goal in the fourth quarter and went nearly four minutes without a point. But the Lady Tigers’ 11-point lead was enough.

Barely.

“I’m proud of them for hanging on,” Kell said. “They played their hearts out, and the main thing is we came out on top.”

BOX SCORE

WILLOW SPRINGS (52) – Rochermich 18. Dudko 2. Cox 3. Sherbo 15. Perkins 8. Porter 6. FG 22. FT 2-5. F 11. (3-pointers: Rothermich 4, Cox, Sherbo).

HOUSTON (53) – Shelby Cremer 3. Abby Casper 10. Makayla Koch 5. Sarah Kelley 18. Jaydin Ramsey 14. Emily Shea 1. Alyssa Hayes 2. FG 20. FT 10-15. F 8. (3-pointers: Ramsey 2, Koch. Fouled out: none).