Licking Downs Houston In Class 3 District 10 Championship

037a3170-2

By Matt Turer — mturer@ky3.com
@MattTurer

Cabool, Mo. — Licking’s month-long win streak is headed unscathed to the Class 3 state sectionals. The Wildcats used a big third-quarter spurt Saturday night in Cabool to push past Houston and claim the Class 3 District 10 title, avenging a loss to the Tigers in last year’s district semifinals.

Licking’s third quarter was the game’s defining moment in its 51-33 win. The Wildcats outscored Houston 16-2 in the third after entering halftime up just three.

“We did a lot better job in the third quarter on knowing who their personnel is,” Licking head coach Steven Rissler said. “We know who their shooters and scorers are and we focused on taking away their options, and I think we did a good job.”

CLICK HERE FOR HOUSTON VS. LICKING PHOTOS

Licking guards Ashley Ingram and Karlee Holland paced the Wildcats offensively. Both found success driving into the paint and getting to the free-throw line. Ingram finished with a game-high 18 points. Holland scored 17 and was 11-14 from the line.

Licking got to the free-throw line 37 times as a team, connecting on 24 attempts.

“We know how they play,” Ingram said of Houston. “We know if we drive in they’re going to try to foul us so we try our hardest to drive and see if we can draw fouls.”

Licking (23-5) led 10-4 after a quarter before an 8-1 Houston run gave the Tigers (14-15) a 12-11 lead early in the second quarter.

“We knew they would try to make a run,” Licking junior McKenzie Cook said. “We would have to be ready for it and just keep up the momentum, talk each other up and just keep going.”

037A3046

The Wildcats led 19-16 at the half. Houston pulled within a point early in the third quarter but was held scoreless for nearly seven minutes after that early field goal.

“In that run in the second quarter we did a good job of getting the ball inside and playing inside-out. We kind of got away from that in the third quarter and got a little stagnant,” Houston head coach Jim Moore said. “I think it’s more of us than what they did. They’re a good team, don’t get me wrong, but I think we got away from what we were having success with.”

Houston eliminated Licking from last year’s C3D10 tournament in the semifinal round.

Houston senior Jaydin Ramsey led the Tigers with 14 points. The Tigers graduate five seniors and emotion ran high in the locker room after the loss.

“They’re just a special group,” Moore said. “They’re all great girls. They’re fun to coach. They never quit. They work hard on the gym floor, in the classroom and in the weight room. We’re going to miss them.”

Licking is set to face Southern Boone County (22-5) on March 1 at 7:45 pm. Southern Boone eliminated previously undefeated St. James in its district championship.

“We don’t want the season to end,” Ingram said. “The farther we go the harder we play. Survive and advance is what Rissler says. It really gets you pumped up.”

037A3180

FINAL: Licking 51, Houston 33
Houston 4 12 2 15- 33
Licking 10 9 16 16- 51

Houston- Jaydin Ramsey 14, Kaitlyn Root 9, Ally Morgan 5, Abby Casper 3, Sevanna Rowland 1, Alyssa Hayes 1
Licking- Ashley Ingram 18, Karlee Holland 17, Delrayn Feringa 6, Lexie Hadix 5, McKenzie Cook 3, Katelyn Kinder 2

Related Posts

Loading...