Sports
Lady Tigers gain winning experience in Lady Badger Tournament
Monday, 14 January 2013 by Tony Adams
Belton’s Emily Hugo drives to the basket against Copperas Cove earlier this season.LAMPASAS — The experience was the objective for Coach Brenda Gomez' Belton Lady Tigers basketball team after the Christmas break.
After a heartbreaking first day, Belton bounced back and finished off the weekend in style.
The girls lost a pair of games Friday at the Lady Badger Holiday Tournament, falling to Dripping Springs 41-33 and Mason 56-55. Big Red bounced back on Saturday thump Fischer Canyon Lake 42-25.
In the early Friday game, the Tigers were plagued by a plethora of questionable calls and constant parades to the free throw line by Dripping Springs.
Kinsey Williams hit two three-pointers and Emily Hugo added a three-point basket of her own to put Belton up on top 9-5 just 2:23 into the game. Dripping Springs bullied their way through the remainder of the first quarter, going on a 10-5 trot and taking a lead 15-14 lead into the second quarter.
The second quarter was all Dripping Springs, as they outscored Belton 10-4 in the period. Emily Hugo scored all four points for Belton and Dripping Springs led 25-18 at the halftime break.
Belton could only make up one point on Dripping Springs in the third quarter as Big Red trailed 31-25 after three quarters.
Dripping Springs held Big Red scoreless for the first 4:15 of the quarter, but was only able to stretch the lead out six more points at 37-25. Olivia Warehime sparked a quick 8-0 run to get Belton back to within four points of Dripping Springs, 37-33, with 2:15. Belton would not touch the scoreboard again as Dripping Springs would score four more points and keep the ball out of the hands of Belton.
Madison Steele had 15 points for Dripping Springs. Hailey Bode added 13 in the win. Dripping Springs was 21-27 from the free throw line.
Hugo had nine points for Belton. Williams added seven points in the loss. Belton was 6-11 from the free throw line.
In the second game, the Mason Cowgirls (18-4) outscored the Lady Tigers 7-6 in the first quarter and took a 24-18 lead into the locker room.
Once again, Hugo and Williams came up big for Belton in the third quarter, each chipping in to get the Lady Tigers into the lead at the end of the third quarter 36-35. The teams traded baskets, as the game see-sawed back and forth. Mason pulled ahead in the final moments and took home the tournament pool victory.
Margaret Lemke has 16 points for Mason. Emily Holland added 13 and Hannah Haley chipped in 10 points for the Cowgirls.
Hugo and Williams each had 16 for the Lady Tigers. Olivia Warehime also contributed seven points for Belton.
Wrapping up the tournament schedule on Saturday, Belton faced 3A Fischer Canyon Lake Lady Hawks in the tournament's bronze bracket game.
A three-point barrage, led by Williams, put Belton up 17-7 after the first quarter. The Big Red blitzing continued with a 13-3 second quarter to put the Lady Tigers up 30-10 at halftime.
Belton charged out of the locker room with a 9-5 outscoring of Canyon Lake in third quarter to run the lead up to 24 points at 39-15. The Lady Hawks outscored Belton 10-3 in the fourth quarter, but the lead was far too great to overcome.
Williams had 15 points for the Lady Tigers. Amber Ramsey had 14 points for Canyon Lake.
Belton will host Killeen on Friday night as they return back to District 8-5A play.
