Sports
Lady Tigers end season on winning note against Midway
Monday, 18 February 2013 by Tony Adams
Belton’s Britney Sculark drives past a defender during a recent game. The Lady Tigers ended their season Tuesday night.You live by the three, you die by the three.
The Belton Lady Tigers relied on six three-point baskets and never trailed, as they finished their 2012-2013 season with an impressive 47-39 victory over the Waco Midway Pantherettes Tuesday night at Tiger Gym.
Kinsey Williams started night off with a three-point basket to put the Tigers up just 28 seconds in. Aleria Benson got Midway on the board at the 7:09 mark. Emily Hugo sandwiched three-point baskets around three Midway free throws to give Tigers 9-5 lead. Briana Ragland and Olivia Warehime chipped in baskets to close out the first quarter to give Belton a 12-5 lead.
The Lady Tigers' offensive rebounding, a facet of their game that was missing throughout the season, shined through.
"I was incredibly proud of the rebounding, especially on the offensive boards," said coach Brenda Gomez. "We are finally starting to get offensive rebounds."
Both teams missed a series of shots to begin the second quarter before Ariel Wheeler ended a 4:53 Midway scoreless streak at the 5:17. Hugo and Mikeal Wilder traded three-pointers to make the score 15-10. Both teams hit a series of free throws follow the point. The Lady Tigers led at the halftime 18-16.
Armani Lang tied the game at 18-18 with a field goal with 7:34 remaining in the third quarter. The Lady Tigers put together a 12-0 run, covering 3:46. Hugo, Ragland and Warehime combined for the 12-spot to retake the lead at 30-18 with 3:33 remaining in the third quarter. Belton stretched the lead to 13, leading at the end of the third quarter 36-23.
Defense was the name of both teams games in the early stages of the fourth quarter, as multiple presses and turnovers dominated play. McKinzee Robinson got the Lady Tigers on the board in the fourth quarter with a basket to make the score 38-24 with 5:00 to play. Miles and Rebekah Beaird combined for a quick 7-1, 1:07 run to draw the Pantherettes with eight points at 39-31. Following a Belton timeout, the Lady Tigers went on a 6-0 run of their own to take the lead back out to 14 points at 45-34 with 1:47 remaining. Midway closed the game on a 9-2 run, but the end was academic.
Hugo led all scorers with 19 points, including five three-point baskets. Ragland had nine points and Williams scored seven for the Lady Tigers, who finish their season 10-23 and 2-12 in District 8-5A.
Miles scored 14 points for Midway, who ended their season 10-21 and 4-10 in District 8-5A.
The year was a tough one for the Lady Tigers. But with the positive finish to the campaign, in which the Lady Tigers won two of the last three games, and led late in the game they lost, things are looking for the 2013-2014 Belton Lady Tigers basketball team.
"For Bradley (Assistant coach Bradley Marek) and I both, it feels like we're on the right track ," said Gomez. "Hopefully, the kids understand our philosophy and philosophy suits our type of kids. I feel we can be really good in the future. But we have to play a ton of basketball."
Lady Tigers fall to Shoemaker
KILLEEN-Starting with the Copperas Cove game two weeks ago, the Belton Lady Tigers have rapidly become that team that opponents in District 8-5A didn't want to face.
For three quarters, the Shoemaker Lady Grey Wolves experienced such a nightmare. But a scrappy fourth quarter erased an eight point deficit and lifted Shoemaker to a 49-46 over the Lady Tigers.
The Lady Tigers (9-24, 1-12 District 8-5A) jumped out to a 15-8 lead at the end of the first quarter. They continued the pressure in the second and third quarters, first leading at halftime 27-20 and then after three quarters 36-28.
Shoemaker (9-19, 3-9 District 8-5A) turned up the defensive heat on the Lady Tigers, forcing multiple turnovers throughout the fourth quarter and a 21-10 quarter long scoring streak dropped the hard fighting Belton squad to another tough road loss.
Briana Gatson scored 17 points for the Lady Grey Wolves. Ashley Ousley chipped in 10 points for Shoemaker.
Kinsey Williams scored 14 points for Belton. Olivia Warehime and Briana Ragland each scored 10 points for the Lady Tigers, who play their final game of the season Tuesday night at Tiger Gym against Waco Midway.
