Lady Tigers two and out at district

In sports, the post-season is labeled a, "brand new season," where you throw out the regular season records and strive for the best.

One team definitely wanting to throw out the regular season marks and dreaming of a district championship was the Mountain Home Lady Tigers. Suffering through a frustrating regular season that saw just one win in 17 decisions, the Lady Tigers were hoping for the consistency they needed to enjoy some success.

Unfortunately, the post-season was very similar to the regular season for Mountain Home, with moments of brilliance, but not the consistency needed to record some wins, as the Lady Tigers lost to Kuna and Vallivue to be eliminated from the district tourney.

Kuna 26, 25, 25

Mountain Home 24, 12, 12

The Lady Tigers had closed out the regular season at Kuna, losing in three, but in three close games, and one could feel the excitement of opening district tourney play against Kuna again, at home, and the hopes of an upset.

Game one certainly oozed with that excitement, as Mountain Home shot out to a 6-2 lead. Kuna caught the Lady Tigers at 10, and again at 11, then went up by five, 19-14.

Mountain Home came back and tied the game at 24-24, but Kuna scored the final two points to win game one, 26-24.

Kuna jumped out to the lead in game two, and the Lady Tigers were never able to catch them, losing by 13.

Game three was much the same as game two, with Mountain Home never able to get a rally going, losing 12-25.

"We played real well that first game, we really did," said Lady Tiger volleyball coach Heather Cherry after the match. "We get going, then once the game is over, we have a hard time getting back up. We really made some young mistakes, leaving the court open, and not talking to each other the way we've learned to, so we just made some mistakes that were just not typical of the team we've become over the course of the season.

"So I was a little disappointed, and I know the girls are very disappointed, but we'll come back out on Wednesday and play again, and hopefully play a little bit better," Cherry said after the match.

Shelby Wickmark had five service points, two service aces, four kills, a block and five digs. Kim Gulley had four service points, three aces, a kill and two blocks. Christa Stanton had three kills and a block. Paula Barrientos had six assists and three digs.

Vallivue 25, 25, 25

Mountain Home 15, 17, 18

The Lady Pilots faced Vallivue last Wednesday night in a loser-out match. The Lady Falcons opened with a win over Caldwell, and took top-seeded Bishop Kelly to five games before losing the night before.

Mountain Home was hoping the nearly two-hour match the night before for the Lady Falcons would have them weary, and the Lady Tigers shot out to a lead over them in game one, but Vallivue took off from an 8-8 tie on a 17-7 run to win game one, 25-15.

Mountain Home stayed close in game two, but could never mount the kind of rally they needed to come back and take the lead, falling short, 17-25.

The Lady Tigers fell behind 0-6 in game three, but rallied to tie it at 7, 8, 9 and 10, before a 15-8 run produced a 25-18 Vallivue win.

"It was a good match," said Coach Cherry after the match that ended the season for her Lady Tigers.

"We talked before the game about playing with heart and really putting it all on the court, because there was nothing left for seven of these girls afterwards, and they really did that.

"In the second and third games I felt like they were doing everything they could. We got some great hits and we got some great blocks and we dug up the ball, and Jenny Gross did not score as many points (at the net) as she has the other two times we played them, so I really feel like it was a big moral victory for us, and it was a good way to end, with the girls really working hard and feeling good about what they're doing.

"I'm not embarrassed about our season. I'm not embarrassed about any part of it. It's been enjoyable, and I know I'll miss those seniors, most definitely."

Cherry must rebuild again next year, as she loses seven seniors from this year's squad (plus Amber Smith, who was injured all year), but she likes what she will have to work with next year.

"We've got some real strength coming up, especially in our JV team, and we've got some really good sophomores and some freshmen that are playing sophomores, and every year, we look to make it better and better.

"We're definitely making some good strides overall, and eventually, Mountain Home is going to become a strong team, and each year we're going to be more and more competitive."

Emmett beat Bishop Kelly for the district championship, and Kuna bested Vallivue for third place. Emmett and Bishop Kelly both advance to the 4A State Tournament this week at Sandpoint.

Kuna lost to Moscow in a play-in match to make state.