Lady Mustangs Win Opening Tournament Game

Photo by Rick Peck McDonald County’s Tricia Wattman looks to score while being defended by Jasper’s Kristy Holliday during the Lady Mustangs’ 46-23 win on Monday night in the opening round of the Carl Junction Tournament.
Photo by Rick Peck McDonald County’s Tricia Wattman looks to score while being defended by Jasper’s Kristy Holliday during the Lady Mustangs’ 46-23 win on Monday night in the opening round of the Carl Junction Tournament.

McDonald County trailed Jasper 12-6 early in the second quarter before outscoring the Lady Eagles 24-4 over the next 15 minutes on the way to a 46-23 win in the opening round of the Freeman Sports Medicine CJ classic Girls Basketball tournament on Monday night at Carl Junction High School.

Jasper scored the final four points of the first quarter to take a 10-6 lead at the end of the first period and added a basket in the first minute of the second quarter for a 12-6 lead before McDonald County started clawing its way back into the game.

Sophomore guard Sam Frazier came off the bench and hit a short jumper to ignite the Lady Mustangs in the second period. Madison Hall followed with a basket before freshman Ragan Wilson tied the game with a jumper from the baseline. Wilson hit her second consecutive basket just before the halftime buzzer to give McDonald County a 14-12 lead at intermission.

Jasper tied the game on its first possession of the third quarter, but McDonald County went on a 16-0 run for a 30-14 lead before Jasper scored at the end of the period to make the score 30-16 entering the fourth period.

McDonald County put the game away with a 13-2 run in the fourth period.

"We came out sluggish in the first half and maybe a little nervous," said coach Blake Short. "We committed a lot of fouls because we were flat-footed and didn't move our feet on defense. We really played poorly in the first half and still had the lead. The second half was more what it should have been the whole game. Our press in the second half was much better. I didn't do it any more in the first half because of the fouls."

Frazier finished with 11 points to lead a balanced scoring attack. Rounding out the scoring for McDonald county were Tricia Wattman with nine points, Wilson seven, Madison Hall and Caitlynn Sedillos five each, Leslie Yousey three, Cloee Helm and Meagan Mills two each and Kylie Helm and Aspen Bowman one each.

Kristy Holliday scored 10 points to lead Jasper.

"We need to do a better job of coming out ready to play," Short said. "We are getting better. We just have to keep getting better every day."

McDonald County advances to the semifinals where it will take on top-seeded Carl Junction on Thursday, Dec. 1. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.

Sports on 12/01/2016