MORAN Marmaton Valley Highs girls saw their second straight nail-biter to open the 2019-20 season Tuesday; and their second straight agonizing defeat.
The Wildcats nearly erased an eight-point deficit in the second half, but fell 28-27 to Northeast-Arma in MVs preseason tournament.
The girls are fighting hard, interim head coach Dan Uhlrich said. We just need to put the ball through the hoop. Close just aint cutting it.
The Wildcats were within a bucket at four separate defensive possessions in the fourth quarter, but could not get the crucial stop down the stretch.
Still, there was a chance. Bailey Griffith corralled a missed free throw with 6.8 seconds left, and the Wildcats down by three, 28-25.
She drove the length of the court, but was inside the 3-point line when she hit her buzzer-beater.
We got a little rushed there at the end, Uhlrich said.
Neither team did much early. The Vikings led 5-4 after a quarter and 12-10 at the break. Alyson Ards steak and layup to open the third tied the score at 12-12 before Northeast took the lead for good on an 8-0 run. Griffith hit a pair of buckets late into the period to pull MV within 22-18. Kaylee Beckers layup cut the deficit to two early in the fourth period, triggering the frustrating final few minutes for the Wildcats.
Alyson Ard scored eight, Griffith had seven and Mykayla Ard had six to lead Marmaton Valley, who shot a cool 3 of 10 from the free throw line as a team. Rachel Fox paced the Vikings with 11.
Marmaton Valley hosts Madison Thursday.
BOX SCORE
Northeast (5-7-10-628) (FG/3pt): Claffey 0/2-2-2-8, Newport 0-1-1-1, Fox 1/ 3-0-2-11, Hegeman 0-1-3-1, Young 0-0-3-0, Sigmon 1/1-0-0-5, Caruthers 1-0-3-2. TOTALS: 3/6-4-14-28.
Marmaton Valley (4-6-8-9-27): Griffith 2-3-3-7, Lawson 2-0-1-4, Bracken 0-0-1-0, M. Ard 3-0-4-6, A. Ard 4-0-2-8, Becker 1-0-3-2. Totals: 12-3-14-27.
