The McDonald County Lady Mustangs fell to 0-3 for the season with losses to Jasper and Seneca to close out last week's Freeman Sports CJ Classic Girls Basketball Tournament at Carl Junction High School.
McDonald County led Jasper 17-16 at the end of the first half in the consolation semifinals on Nov. 28, but the Lady Eagles outscored McDonald County, 18-15, in the third quarter to take a 34-32 lead into the final period.
The teams traded baskets to start the fourth quarter before Jasper scored six consecutive points to take a 40-32 lead midway through the period.
Sam Frazier and Ragan Wilson hit back-to-back buckets for the Lady Mustangs to cut the deficit to 42-38 with 2:40 left in the game, but Jasper stretched the lead to 44-38 with 1:55 remaining before hitting six out of six free throws down the stretch for a 50-40 win.
Frazier finished with 14 points, including four three-pointers, and Meagan Mills added 10 to lead McDonald County. Rounding out the scoring for the Lady Mustangs were Wilson with six points, Rita Santillan and Kristin Penn with four points each, and Caitlyn Barton with two.
In the seventh-place game on Nov. 30, Seneca claimed a 42-35 decision over the Lady Mustangs.
The Lady Indians trailed, 9-7, at the end of the first quarter before taking a 17-15 lead at intermission. Seneca used a 14-10 advantage to stretch its lead to 31-25 entering the fourth quarter.
Frazier scored 10 points and Santillan and Penn had eight each to lead the Lady Mustangs. Other scoring for McDonald County included Barton with four points, Wilson and Mills with two each and Jaylie Sanny with one.
"In both games, honestly, if we make shots like we did against Nevada, we would beat both of those teams," said coach Blake Short. "We shot five for 26 from the paint against Jasper. We were getting good shots; we just didn't make them. Against Seneca, we were one for 20 from the three-point line. We didn't attack the basket, and let them hang around to where they knew they could beat us.
"We had zero transition points against Seneca, and we will not win if we have zero transition points with the type of team we have. We have to get better and start knocking down some shots. They're there; we just to need to make some and we will. It's early and it is frustrating, but I am optimistic and we have some things we can build on."
McDonald County traveled to Purdy on Dec. 5 before it takes on St. Mary's Colgan on Dec. 8 in Pittsburg, Kan. The Lady Mustangs home opener is set for Dec. 8 against Baxter Springs, Kan.
Sports on 12/07/2017