After getting shell-shocked in its first six-minute quarter against Mount Vernon, the McDonald County Lady Mustangs basketball team showed the potential it has for the 2016-2017 season at a four-team jamboree held Nov. 17 at Webb City High School.
Mount Vernon opened the first period against the Lady Mustangs with back-to-back three pointers and went on to score 16 consecutive points while shutting out McDonald County.
McDonald County bounced back in the second period, taking an early 4-2 lead on baskets by Tricia Wattman and Ragan Wilson before Mount Vernon broke an 8-8 tie with a late three-pointer for an 11-8 win. Meagan Mills and Wattman each scored two points to forge the late tie before Mount Vernon pulled out the period with the trey.
Against Carl Junction, McDonald County stepped up its defense, dropping a 5-4 decision in the first period.
Madison Hall opened the scoring for the Lady Mustangs before Carl Junction scored five consecutive points for a 5-2 lead. Wattman's rebound basket to beat the buzzer left the Lady Mustangs one point short.
Carl Junction scored the first nine points of the second period before Jordan Witt scored for McDonald County in an 11-2 loss.
McDonald County played its best period of the night in a 12-6 win over Webb City in the first period.
Hall matched a pair of Webb City three-pointers with two of her own before McDonald County scored six consecutive points on baskets by Caitlyn Sedillos, Wilson and Leslie Yousey.
In the second period, Webb City outscored the Lady Mustangs by a 15-4 margin. Alexia Kitlen and Mattie Leach each scored two points for McDonald County.
"We came out nervous," said coach Blake Short. "We either tried to do too much or we didn't do enough. We came out in the second quarter against Mount Vernon and played better.
"We did some good things against Carl Junction and obviously our best quarter was against Webb City. We actually played well. We got it going offensively a little bit and took care of the ball. There are a lot of things to build on. You hate to come out and start like that, but that's the whole point of this. When we start playing games for real, we will be ready to go. I am happy with everything except that first six minutes."
McDonald County opens its season against Jasper in the Carl Junction Tournament at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28.
Sports on 11/24/2016