Nevada girls fall to Kickapoo

Herald-Tribune

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Despite a solid effort, the Nevada High School girls basketball team fell to Springfield Kickapoo 59-44 on Friday night.

"They're a solid team," Nevada Coach Brent Bartlett said. "I thought we did a lot of nice things. It was a hard-fought game. Our girls gave a valiant effort."

Nevada led 7-0 right away, but Kickapoo fought back and took a one-point lead into halftime. In the second half, Kickapoo began to knock down some shots to pull ahead. With a lead late in the game, Kickapoo stalled, ran clock and forced the Tigers to foul. Kickapoo made more than enough free throws late to secure the win.

"I'm really pleased," Bartlett said. "I saw a lot of improvements since we started Christmas break. We're a young team and we're going to continue to improve."

A freshman, Mikayla Bartlett scored 16 and classmate Rilie Good added eight for NHS.

Kickapoo 59, Nevada 44

NE 12 14 11 7 -- 44

KI 14 13 15 17 -- 59

Nevada: Tori Dahmer 7, Mikayla Bartlett 16, Kelsey McCall 6, Rilie Good 8, Morgan McNeley 5, Bailey Harbit 2.

Kickapoo: Rowland 18, Danzer 14, Armstrong 10, Ewing 3, Allen 4, Closser 10.