Nevada girls top Liberal, take third at Carl Junction

Nevada Daily Mail

CARL JUNCTION -- A halftime adjustment was the difference.

Nevada held Liberal to six points in the entire second half and won the third place game of the Carl Junction Girls Basketball Classic 41-26 on Saturday afternoon.

With his team down 20-17 at intermission, Nevada Coach Brent Bartlett said he decided to switch from man-to-man to a zone defense for the second half.

It worked. Liberal scored just six points after the half, Nevada pulled ahead and never looked back.

"Our girls did an amazing job," Bartlett said. "The switch to the zone was the key. I thought our girls were the fresher team in the second half, and it was just a great team effort. And Liberal's a good team. They were very close to playing for the title."

After a 9-5 third quarter, Nevada led 26-25.

The Tigers finished the game with a 15-1 fourth quarter.

Tigers senior Tiffani Long scored 19 points and was named to the all-tourney team. Long scored nine in the fourth quarter.

"She's doing what a senior is supposed to do," Bartlett said. "She had a great week."

Bartlett also singled out senior Bailey Harbit, as well.

"Bailey had a great week, too," he said. "And everybody contributed."

The Tigers, now 3-1, head to Carl Junction tonight. The varsity girls game starts at 6:30 p.m.

Carl Junction Classic

Third place game

Nevada 41, Liberal 26

NE 10 7 9 15 -- 41

LI 8 12 5 1 -- 26

Nevada: Tiffani Long 19, Tori Dahmer 4, Ashley Shumaker 7, Morgan McNeley 2, Mikayla Bartlett 2, MacKenzie Pritchett 5, Bailey Harbit 2, Kelsey McCall 0, Megan Harper 0. Three-pointers: Pritchett.

Liberal: Sprenkle 2, Dodson 6, Kirby 9, Beckwith 7, Dugan 2. Three-pointers: Beckwith.

Carl Junction Girls Classic

Monday's scores

Carthage 70, CJ JV 19

Liberal 49, Monett 41

Tuesday's scores

Webb City 70, Seneca 34

Nevada 65, Carl Junction 51

Thursday's scores

CJ JV 50, Monett 48

Seneca 64, Carl Junction 54

Friday's semifinals

Carthage 57, Liberal 53

Webb City 70, Nevada 65

Saturday's scores

Seventh place

Carl Junction 46, Monett 40

Fifth place

Seneca 49, Carl Junction JV 42

Third place

Nevada 41, Liberal 26

Title game

Carthage 48, Webb City 46

CJ All-Tournament Team

Kaylee Morgan, Carthage; Chloe Shepherd, Carthage; Gabbie Gannaway, Webb City; Mikaela Burgess, Webb City; Tiffani Long, Nevada; Kori Dodson, Liberal.