Lady Lions and Lady Indians advance to championship game

MALDEN, Mo- The Senath-Hornersville Lady Lions almost had their run in the Bootheel Conference Tournament brought to an end Thursday night. The Malden Green Wave held the advantage through most of the third quarter and SHHS took a slim three-point lead into the fourth. SHHS got some key turnovers though in the fourth quarter along with Seleena Neal heating up from the field to take down Malden 60-43 and advance to the championship game against Kennett.

" I thought we did a better on the boards and shooting the ball in the second half," said Senath-Hornersville coach Jamie Johnson. "We changed presses, we went to a 1-2-2 instead of a 2-2-1 and got some turnovers there that opened the game up. I really think the rebounding and turnovers made the difference in the second half, basically thats what we had to do to win the game tonight and get into the finals."

Malden came out after the half with the game tied and had taken a four-point lead 2:30 into the period on two Jenifer Miller three-pointers. The Lady Lions kept pace with Hannah Kennedy getting a hot hand from the baseline. With one-minute left in the third period Kennedy gave SHHS the lead when she scored on a fast break. Megan Smith had a put-back on an offensive rebound with 18 seconds left to close out the quarter with the Lady Lions of top 35-32.

In the final period, the Lady Lions opened up their lead. McKenzie Harris and Neal combined for six-points in the opening two-minutes to stretch the lead to nine-points (41-32).

The Green Wave pulled back to within three-points when Kycon Stone found Khadijah Barnes for a basket after a steal and four more points in the paint from Barnes and Miller.

The Lady Lions closed it out after that though. In the final five minutes, SHHS completely took over the boards and turned up the pressure. Harris found Neal for a 3' from the corner and Neal found Harris for an "And 1" after a steal. Harris was involved in the next three plays for the Lady Lions by finding Neal on a fast break, scoring on a fast break of her own and then coming up with a turnover that led to the ball coming back to her to nail a 3' from the top of the key. Harris's 3' put the Lady Lions on top 55-38 with two minutes left in the game and finished of the Green Wave.

"The girls came out and worked very well together and moved the ball well," said Malden coach Caysie Heil. "I think we just ran out of steam in the second half. We didn't take care of the ball and turnovers turn into points. I think thats how they opened the lead on us but, I'm proud of the girls for coming out and playing hard."

At the start of the game it looked as if the Lady Lions would roll when Jami Jackson got the ball to Harris at the top of the key for a 3' then Neal and Megan Smith came up with steals that led to four-points to give SHHS a quick 7-2 lead.

Malden hung in there though and tied the game 30 seconds into the second quarter.

"We came out a little flat in the first half and Malden out hustled us," said Johnson. "I thought they came out ready to play at a more up-beat tempo and it gave us some trouble. It all goes back to getting our legs back under us after all the days we've had off. We've got some practice days here to fix some things and we're going to do that."

SHHS had three players reach double figures in scoring with Seleena Neal leading the way at 18-points. Hannah Kennedy put in 17 and McKenzie Harris finished with 13-points.

Malden had two players get into double digits. Jenifer Miller led with 11-points and Kycon Stone finished with 10-points.

The Lady Lions will advance to the championship game of the Bootheel Conference Tournament where they will face the Kennett Lady Indians next Wednesday night.

"I think it will be a good game," said Johnson. "We'll see what bunch of ours comes out to play. If we come out ready to play I think we'll match up fine."

Portageville vs. Kennett

The Kennett Lady Indians were short their star point-guard, Jerica Wheeler, in their semifinal game of the Bootheel Conference Tournament on Thursday night. Mackenzie Carr stepped up to fill Wheeler's shoes though and the Lady Indians were able to knock off the Portageville Lady Bulldogs by a score of 65-31 to advance to the championship game where they will face the Senath-Hornersville Lady Lions.

"McKenzie Carr stepped up tonight as a sophomore to play point-guard and did a great job," said Kennett coach Casey Bunting. "She was calm, cool, collected and took control when she needed to. She really did well at setting up our offense. She needed that confidence boost because she has that talent but, I think sometimes she questions it. I know she has it though. She did well tonight and showed what she's truly capable of."

The Lady Indians continued the dominance that they have displayed all year by getting 15-points off of turnovers in the first half.

Veronica Amos had a particularly good game by knocking down five three-pointers and wreaking havoc on Portageville in the full-court press.

"Veronica is long and lean so she can really stretch out, especially on the front of that press," said Bunting. "She can get her hands on a lot of balls up there and she really took advantage of that tonight. She was confident in her role tonight and she knew that she might have to help McKenzie out if she needed it. Veronica came out to play ball.

Brittney Williams also stood out for the Lady Indians by pulling down over 10 rebounds and being a presence underneath the basket throughout the game.

"Brittney is one of those girls that has good hands and good basketball sense," said Bunting. "One thing we talk to her about is attacking the goal and she did that tonight. She was strong on the boards too. She played like a senior and did well for us tonight."

Portageville did a good job of hanging with the Kennett through the first quarter with Kaitlyn Nowlin hitting to two three-pointers in the final 30 seconds of the period pull within 9-points of the lead (23-14).

Kennett controlled every aspect of the game in the second quarter though to push their lead to 20-points by halftime (41-21).

"I think in the first quarter we were just kind of adjusting to not having Jerica out there," said Bunting. "Then we settled in. Sometimes, it seems like it takes us a few minutes to to get warmed up and by the end of the first quarter we'll be on a roll. Tonight was an example of that."

Kennett had three players reach double figures in scoring with Amos leading the way at 27-points. Williams put in 12 and Caroline Shetley finished with 10-points.

Nowlin was Portageville's leading scorer with nine-points.

The Lady Indians will advance to the championship game where they will face the Senath-Hornersville Lady Lions next Wednesday night. Kennett and SHHS have already met twice this season with Kennett coming out on top in both games.

"It will be the third time that we have played them this year and with Senath, it's always a ballgame." said Bunting.