When Liberty rallied to force overtime, Houston Lady Tigers coach Brent Kell was uncertain how his team would respond. Then the Lady Eagles hit a 3-pointer to begin the extra period, and Kell figured the game was over.
“I honestly didn’t have a lot of confidence that we could come back,” Kell said. “But we had some kids step up and just refuse to lose.”
Freshman Sarah Kelley scored while being fouled to bring life to HHS and with the game tied, Kylee Elmore drained two free throws with 10.4 seconds remaining as the Lady Tigers squeaked out a 64-62 home victory Monday.
The thrilling finish put the finishing touches on an intense battle. Six players fouled out, including seniors Alexa Ichord and Amber Sillyman for the Lady Tigers, and two Liberty fans were ejected. A member of the Houston Police Department escorted one man out of the building as Elmore knocked down the game-winning free throws.
Ichord had 16 points and a career-best 14 rebounds before fouling out. Elmore added 15 points and Kelley had 10 points –– her most as a member of the varsity team.
The night included many special activities as part of the Lady Tigers’ second annual “Pink Out” to raise funds for Relay for Life. There were contests, silent auctions, competitions and pink treats to raise funds in the fight against cancer. Many fans also wore pink “hope” T-shirts design for the event.
“It was a really unique atmosphere,” Kell said. “I looked across the gym, and it was really bright. I had to blink my eyes because it was so bright.”
Houston (10-14) improved to 4-2 in South Central Association play with one game remaining. If the Lady Tigers beat Cabool in Thursday’s regular-season finale, they will tie Willow Springs for second in the conference.
On Thursday, Plato outscored HHS 17-10 in the fourth quarter as part of a 64-62 comeback victory. Elmore hit four 3-pointers and led the Lady Tigers with 26 points. Sillyman had 13 and Ichord added 12.
JUNIOR VARSITY: Megan Silveus scored a career-best 19 points in the Houston JV Lady Tigers’ 57-35 loss Monday to Liberty.
On Thursday, Karissa Zalucky scored eight points in Houston’s 27-10 victory against Plato. The game was only two quarters.
Box scores
VARSITY
Monday’s game
| Liberty | 17 | 16 | 3 | 20 | 6 – | 62 |
| Houston | 11 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 8 – | 64 |
HOUSTON (64) –– Kylee Elmore 15. Alexa Ichord 16. Sydney Cremer 4. Kenzie Scheets 10. Amber Sillyman 2. Sarah Kelley 10. Kayla Herndon 7. FG 20. FT 23-36. F 21. (3-pointers: Elmore. Fouled out: Ichord, Sillyman).
Thursday’s game
| Plato | 15 | 11 | 21 | 17 | – | 64 |
| Houston | 16 | 13 | 23 | 10 | – | 62 |
HOUSTON (62) –– Kylee Elmore 26. Alexa Ichord 12. Sydney Cremer 2. Kenzie Scheets 1. Amber Sillyman 13. Sarah Kelley 4. Kayla Herndon 4. FG 22. FT 11-14. F 14. (3-pointers: Elmore 4, Sillyman 3).
JUNIOR VARSITY
Monday’s game
| Liberty | 8 | 17 | 21 | 11 | – | 57 |
| Houston | 8 | 9 | 15 | 3 | – | 35 |
HOUSTON (35) –– Krista Scott 2. Chloe Morning 4. Summer Neal 2. Lizzy Swindell 2. Sarah Kelley 6. Megan Silveus 19. FG 13. FT 9-15. F 15. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: Zalucky).
Thursday’s game
| Plato | 2 | 8 | – | 10 |
| Houston | 13 | 14 | – | 27 |
HOUSTON (27) –– Shelby Cremer 2. Krista Scott 2. Monica Hunter 2. Chloe Morning 2. Summer Neal 2. Lizzy Swindell 6. Karissa Zalucky 8. Megan Silveus 3. FT 13. FT 1-2. F 11. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none).