CARTHAGE, Mo. — Har-Ber used the press to pressure Webb City early and build an insurmountable lead on the way to a 70-31 win in the third-place game of the Lady Tigers Invitational on Saturday.
The Wildcats forced the Cardinals (2-2) into several early turnovers using the press, leading to a 20-5 lead by the end of the first quarter. Webb City responded with a sizable scoring run to start the second period and whittled the lead down to single digits. Har-Ber took a 12-point lead into the third quarter and caught fire from the perimeter to distance themselves in the second half en route to the win.
“We didn’t come out at the start of the game as focused or as confident as we needed to,” Webb City coach Lance Robbins said. “Har-Ber is a great team and their press gave us fits early. Once we were able to adjust and figure out how to handle the press by getting the ball to the middle and get by it, we started to do some positive things.
“I am proud of the fact that our girls picked up their effort and intensity. I thought their confidence in the second quarter was good. I think they came out and hit four 3s to start the half and kind of took all the air out of us. I thought our kids played hard the whole game, but we will learn from this and continue to get better.”
GAME ACTION
Har-Ber went to the full-court press early that led to a number of Webb City turnovers early, allowing the Wildcats to jump out to a 9-0 run over the first several minutes of play. Har-Ber closed the first quarter on a 11-1 run to push the lead to 20-5. Caylan Koons poured in 12 points in the opening period for the Wildcats.
The Cardinals got back into the game early in the second period thanks to a sizable scoring run of their own. Down 17, Webb City rattled off 11 unanswered points to trim the deficit to 22-16 with five minutes to play in the half.
“I thought we played with some confidence that we didn’t start the game with,” Robbins said of his team’s play to open the second quarter. “When we play with confidence like that, making some shots and getting a couple of stops for you on defense, it just builds momentum for you.”
Austyn Mickey accounted for six points in the run, while Kirra Long added four points.
The Wildcats responded with a three-point play from Koons before baskets by Alexus Placensia and Delaney Roller to push the lead back out to double digits, 29-16. Har-Ber eventually took a 34-22 lead into the intermission.
The Wildcats caught fire from the perimeter out of the locker room while pulling away from Webb City in the process. Koons knocked down four 3-pointers in the quarter, while Galatia Andrew also made a pair of 3-pointers to help the Wildcats to a 65-29 lead with one quarter to play.
SCORING LEADERS
Koons led all scorers with 35 points, while Andrew had nine.
Mickey, Ripley Shanks and Josie Spikereit each had six points for Webb City, while Long closed with five.
UP NEXT
Webb City is at Miller on Dec. 9.
