WEAUBLEAU, Mo. — Neosho’s spirited fourth quarter comeback fell short, as host Weaubleau held on late for a 48-42 win over the Wildcats in the girls championship game of the Doug Loehr Holiday Classic on Friday night at Weaubleau High School.
The Tigers held a 17-point advantage late in the third period, 40-23, before the Wildcats pulled within four with 1:25 remaining in the game. However, it wasn’t meant to be for the Wildcats.
Senior guard Olivia Hixson scored a game-high 25 points for the Wildcats. Hixson hit five 3-pointers. Michelle Lindsay added seven points for Neosho and Karlee Ellick had five. Jenna Daggett scored 15 points for Weaubleau.
The game was deadlocked at 10 at the end of the first quarter.
Neosho held a 13-12 lead after Baylie Bowers scored in the paint, but the Wildcats suffered through a long scoring drought for a large part of the second quarter.
On the other hand, the Tigers ended the first half on a 17-3 run. Weaubleau’s Celena Lambeth hit two late 3-pointers to give the hosts a 29-16 halftime advantage.
Hixson hit a pair of treys and converted 3-of-4 free throws in the third period, but the Wildcats still trailed 40-25 entering the final frame.
The Wildcats didn’t quit. Instead, they rallied. Neosho began the fourth quarter on a 12-2 run, with Hixson scoring 10 during the surge and Lindsay adding a hoop, cutting the hosts’ lead to 42-37 with 3:20 left.
Weaubleau’s Jaylee Daggett scored in the lane with 1:45 remaining for a 44-37 lead, but Hixson buried a trey on the other end, trimming Neosho’s deficit to four with just over a minute to play.
The hosts received a basket from Haleigh Dryer with 45 seconds left to make it a six-point game. Lindsay made two free throws for the Wildcats, but the Tigers converted two late charities for the final margin.
In the tourney’s third-place game, Lakeland edged Verona 52-47. Crowder College recruit Paige Bauer poured in 35 points for Verona.
