Lady Tigers loses three

The Mountain Home Lady Tigers took their lumps last week, dropping games to Emmett, Jerome and Vallivue.

Emmett 63

Mountain Home 40

The Mountain Home Lady Tigers opened the new year at Emmett last Tuesday, coming up short against the Lady Huskies in SIC 4A conference basketball.

The Lady Tigers played well first quarter, and trailed just 12-9 after one. Emmett outscored the Lady Tigers 35-17 in the middle quarters to put the game away.

"We started out real well," said Mountain Home girls basketball coach Karen Kohring. "The word I used with the girls was, 'disappointed.' I think we can play better as a team for a whole game.

"We were excited at the very first of the game. Our full court presses were working, and we can't be disappointed in full court pressure when they break our press and get down the floor, we're still in really good shape. They haven't been able to start an offense, so we have to be able to understand that that's okay, and still maintain our composure.

"I think we lost it a little bit out there in the second quarter, and came back a little stronger towards the half, and were 10 down, but we just could not get our composure back and push the ball to the hoop."

Shelby Wickmark, Kim Neely, Ali Hillman and Amber Smith all scored seven points at Emmett. Lauren Hicks scored four points, Christa Stanton, three, Erica Stanton and Kim Gulley each netted two, and Amanda Bitterman added one point.

Mountain Home shot just 26 percent (14-55) from the field, though were two for two in three-pointers. The Lady Tigers hit 10 of 18 (56 percent) free throws.

Emmett shot a sizzling 54 percent (26-48) from the field, and was two of three long range. They hit nine of 18 (50 percent) from the free-throw line.

Jerome 53

Mountain Home 25

Mountain Home hosted the unbeaten Lady Tigers from Jerome last Thursday night in Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium. A 22-2 second quarter for Jerome put them up 34-6 at intermission.

Mountain Home played them to a 19-19 second half, but were unable to make up any of the huge first half deficit.

"They're an excellent ball club," said Coach Kohring of Jerome, "and their inside girls can handle the ball, and that puts a lot of pressure on us when they can grab the rebounds and start their fast break offense. Their guards are quick and good shooters.

"I thought defensively, our half-court game we played really well. Our transition from the top of the circle to the top of the circle was not good. That's where they pretty much beat us and got the turnovers and converted them -- they got 31 points off our turnovers -- and that's not good. I thought we put a lot of pressure on them defensively, but offensively, we're just not into a flow yet and able to penetrate with the ball."

Kim Neely tied her season high she set at Emmett with seven points against Jerome. Ali Hillman added six points. Kylie Lippert tied her season high, coming off the bench to score five points. Des Walden, Amber Smith and Kim Gulley each scored two, and Shelby Wickmark added one.

Mountain Home hit 11 of 33 field goals (33 percent) to Jerome's 17 of 45 (38 percent). Mountain Home missed its only three-point attempt, while Jerome was one of five (20 percent). Mountain Home was just three of seven (43 percent) from the free-throw line, while Jerome shot 69 percent (18-26).

Vallivue 47

Mountain Home 35

Saturday night's battle against Vallivue had all the feel of a district tourney game, and hopefully provided a hint of things to come from the Lady Tigers.

Mountain Home started strong, and built up a 7-2 lead with 4:48 left to go in the first quarter.

Unfortunately for Mountain Home, they would then go almost 13 minutes without scoring a field goal, and during that time Vallivue outscored them 20-1 to lead 22-8. Lauren Hicks' basket with 1:13 left in the half made it 22-10. Vallivue led 25-12 at halftime.

After the Lady Falcons scored the first basket of the third period to go up 27-12, Vallivue seemed content to play with the ball and run some time off the clock. However, it seemed to backfire, as they were unable to up their score, and Mountain Home got a basket from Shelby Wickmark sandwiched in between a trey and basket by Christa Stanton to cut the margin to eight, at 27-19, with 3:28 left in the quarter.

Vallivue then went to their press, and upped their lead to 35-19 heading into the final quarter.

The Lady Tigers managed to come back within nine, at 42-33, on a basket by Kylie Lippert with 2:29 left,but could get no closer, Vallivue holding on for a 47-35 win.

Despite the loss, Coach Kohring saw some good things from her Lady Tigers in the game.

"We were pleased with our efforts. Our guards were pushing the ball to the basket. We lost our composure there a little bit when they were pressing us, but overall, I thought we played fundamental basketball much better and the score was an indication -- just a 12 point difference."

Christa Stanton paced the Lady Tigers in scoring with nine points. Ali Hillman added eight points.

Kylie Lippert once again tied her season high, scoring five points. Erica Stanton also netted five points, Shelby Wickmark added four, and Lauren Hicks and Des Walden each scored two points.

Mountain Home shot just 24 percent (12/50) from the field, including one of four (25 percent) in treys.

Vallivue hit 16 of 36 (44 percent) from the field, hitting two of eight (25 percent) from long range. The Lady Tigers were 10 of 16 (63 percent) from the free-throw line, while Vallivue connected on 13 of 20 for 65 percent.

Mountain Home's defensive pressure forced the Lady Falcons to turn the ball over 22 times, while Mountain Home had just 15 turnovers.

Mountain Home takes a 1-4 conference mark and 1-14 overall record to Caldwell this Thursday night, and is home to Bishop Kelly on Friday night. Coach Kohring hopes to see more improvement from her Lady Tigers as the season progresses.

"We've just got to keep improving and go at them with all our horses. with all our might, so we'll come away with wins."