By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Mount Vernon wasted little time getting into an offensive flow on Friday on its way to a 66-48 Pink Division victory over Republic in the Pink & White Lady Classic at the O’Reilly Family Event Center.
Illinois State signee Cameron Call opened the game with a 6-0 run of her own and Lyndsey Hood converted a three-point play to spark Mount Vernon to a 9-0 lead.
Caitlin Hicks led the way in the first quarter, outscoring Republic on her own, by pouring in 14 points as the Lady Mountaineers raced to a 28-10 first-quarter lead.
“We came out with a great mind-set on what we needed to do to be successful against a really good team,” Mount Vernon coach Grant Berendt said. “I thought our execution in the first half was really good and those kids (Call and Hicks) are the players they are because of the work they put in behind closed doors, the unseen hours, and it showed through on the big moment today for them.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Third-seeded Mount Vernon kept the pressure on, outscoring Republic 17-9 in the second quarter for a 45-19 advantage with Call and Hicks collecting 16 points apiece.
“We stressed that today, ‘let’s make our mark early and see where we’re at,’ ” Berendt said. “I felt like they responded, and we got off to the start that we wanted to as a team.”
Republic, which upset second-seeded Ozark on Thursday, responded in the second half, as Mount Vernon cooled off, outscoring the Lady Mountaineers 29-21.
“I’ve coached against coach (Kris) Flood, and I’ve seen his teams play a long time,” Berendt said. “They’re going to make a run. It’s just a matter of time. They don’t have an ounce of quit in them.”
The Lady Tigers used a run 9-0 during the third quarter to cut into Mount Vernon’s lead, but just didn’t have the firepower needed to complete the comeback.
“Defensively, it just didn’t seem like we had what we’ve had the first two days, being that third day, if we were a little tired,” Republic coach Kris Flood said. “I think (Mount Vernon) looked like the team ready to go, mentally and physically.
“To take something away from today, take away that first quarter, we were right there and right in the game. We just dug too big of a hole.”
Republic lost all-state high jumper Avylina Powell-Qualo to a knee injury during the Ozark game. Flood said they will find out the extent of the injury early next week.
Call led all scorers with 26 points, while Hicks added 21 for Mount Vernon, who will meet top-seeded Strafford in the Pink Division final at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Jazzy Kirby paced Republic with 11 points. They Lady Tigers will play Kickapoo for third place at 4 p.m.
PINK & WHITE TOURNAMENT
PINK DIVISION SEMIFINAL
MOUNT VERNON 66, REPUBLIC 48
MOUNT VERNON 28-17-10-11—66
REPUBLIC 10-9-14-15—48
MOUNT VERNON – Lacy Stokes 5, Caitlin Hicks 21, Cameron Call 26, Lyndsey Hood 5, Ellie Johnston 7, Lauren Vaughn 2.
REPUBLIC – Halli Bartlesmeyer 5, Clara Fronabarger 9, Jade Kirby 8, Anna Bell 2, Kaitlyn Ragsdale 2, Jazzy Kirby 11, Carle Ward 7, Shealyn Barrett 4.
