Adams' career high propels Lady Tigers on Senior Night

Nevada senior Hillary Adams is cut off by a Webb City defender during Friday's game. Adams was not stopped often as she poured in a career-high 32 points to lead Nevada over the Lady Cardinals 63-54.

By Joe Warren

Nevada Herald

Senior Hillary Adams scored a career-high 32 points, including 23 in the second half, as the Nevada Lady Tigers held off the Webb City Lady Cardinals Friday, 63-54.

Playing in front of the home crowd for the final time in her career, Adams poured in five 3s, and surpassed her previous career high of 31 set earlier this season.

Senior Lacy Leonard added 15 points, 13 in the first half, as the Lady Tigers ended a three-game losing streak.

"The girls were fired up, ready to play tonight," Nevada coach Brent Bartlett said.

It showed early as a Lady Tiger team that has been prone to falling behind in the first half, took a 9-7 lead on Adams' first 3-pointer of the game.

Webb City, proving to be a much better opponent than the one Nevada beat handily on Jan. 11, would not go away thought. The Lady Cardinals battled back to take a 13-12 lead into the second period.

Adams hit her second 3 to start the second quarter and give Nevada the lead. From there the Lady Tigers did not trail again.

Leonard, who had nine points in the second period alone, hit a jumper from the left elbow to make it 18-13.

After Webb City's McKenzie Rhea scored two of her team-high 21 points to cut the lead to three, Adams answered with her third trey of the game.

Tasha Hedgcorth scored for Webb City to make it 21-17, and the Lady Tigers proceeded with a 6-0 run.

Leonard scored four of the six points during the run, and senior Chanelle Braun added her only basket of the game as Nevada built a 27-17 lead.

Webb City continued to battle though, and he Lady Tigers were unable to get the lead past 10 points in the first half.

At the break Nevada led 34-26.

In the second half Webb City came on strong.

The Lady Cardinals had a 5-0 run to start the third period, cutting Nevada's lead to three.

Adams continued to provide the big shot for Nevada as she hit her fourth 3-pointer of the game to end the run.

After a basket by Molly Garst brought Webb City within 37-33, Adams hit another from outside and Nevada was back up by seven.

In the fourth quarter it became a free-throw shooting contest and Adams was happy to participate.

After scoring all 17 of her points from the field going into the fourth quarter, Adams went 11 of14 from the line in the final period as she scored 15 of Nevada's final 19 points.

Bartlett said he was happy to see Adams, the second-leading scorer in school history, go out with her biggest game.

"What a great way to end her career here at Wynn Gymnasium," Bartlett said. "You just don't forget your senior year. It's going to be a joy for her the rest of her life."

Leonard, Rice and Braun were not the only seniors as Katie Rice also played her final home game.

The senior forward had two points, scoring the first basket of the game on an offensive rebound.

The Lady Tigers as a team were tested much more from Webb City than they were in the first meeting between the schools.

Nevada beat the Lady Cardinals 68-48 in what turned out to be their only Southwest Conference road win of the season.

This time around Webb City got the offensive outburst from Rhea, an unusual source, as they kept the Lady Tigers from ever pulling away.

"They're an improved team, that's for sure," Bartlett said.

The Lady Tigers finish the regular season with a 19-6 overall record, 4-4 in conference play.

Webb City fell to 5-20 with the loss, 1-7 in the conference.

Both teams will be in action this week as the Class 4 District 12 tournament takes place in Carl Junction.

Nevada is the second seed in the six-team field, earning them a first-round bye. They will play the winner of Monday's Carthage-Carl Junction game. Carthage is the third seed and Carl Junction is the sixth seed.

The winner takes on the Lady Tigers Thursday in Carl Junction.

Nevada has beaten Carl Junction twice this season, once at home and once during the Carthage tournament.

The Lady Tigers have played Carthage three times already, with Nevada winning twice and Carthage winning once.

Webb City will take on Seneca in the first round Monday. The winner of that game will play top-seeded McDonald County, also on Thursday.

Notes: Jordan Webb saw her first action in a few games Friday, coming in with Lacy Leonard in foul trouble in the second period. Webb scored off an offensive rebound during her only stint on the floor ... Nevada forced 21 Webb City turnovers, using a box-and-one on Hedgcorth and at times employing a half-court trap ... Hedgcorth had nine of the turnovers.