Lady Tigers top Ruskin for fifth place

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Joe Warren

Nevada sophomore Kristen Badgley had a breakout game Saturday, scoring 13 points, including four treys in Nevada's 53-49 win.

NEVADA, Mo. -- The Nevada Lady Tigers salvaged fifth place in the Lady Tiger Classic by beating the Kansas City Ruskin Lady Eagles Saturday, 53-49.

The Lady Tigers overcame a 16-2 deficit in the first quarter, finally catching the Lady Eagles when sophomore Kristen Badgley erupted with four 3-pointers in the third quarter.

Ruskin led the entire game at Nevada Middle School until Badgley hit her fourth trey of the period with five seconds remaining in the third. The shot gave Nevada a 46-43 lead, and they held on in a sloppy fourth quarter to win their second straight game.

The Lady Tigers actually outscored each of their three opponents during the Classic, with their only loss coming after forfeiting Tuesday's opening round victory.

Nevada played Saturday's contest with only six players. With a lack of depth and playing their second game in as many days, the Lady Tigers looked sluggish as Ruskin opened up the big early lead.

Tanitra Bedford scored eight points to lead the Lady Eagles as they went up 16-2 with 2:51 remaining in the first period.

Nevada started plugging away at the lead, as Lisa Pendrak hit the first of her three treys in the game, and Amanda Wilson knocked down her only two-point field goal of the game.

Erica Klinksick scored on a breakaway with 1:21 left in the opening quarter, and that prompted a Ruskin time out with the Lady Eagles up 16-9.

The lead would stay between three and nine points for Ruskin the rest of the first half, with the Lady Eagles taking a 33-24 lead into halftime. Ashley Hanson, who would be named to the all-tournament team, led Ruskin in the second period with 10 of her team-high 18 points.

In the third period it was Pendrak coming out firing, knocking down two treys and a runner in the lane to bring Nevada within 35-32.

Ruskin scored on two straight possessions to stretch the lead to 39-32, when Badgley's assault began.

When it was over Nevada was up by three and Ruskin never reclaimed the lead.

Six points from Wilson at the free-throw line in the fourth period helped Nevada hold off Ruskin for the win. Wilson would join Hanson on the all-tourney team.

The Lady Tigers (11-7) will next play tonight when they host Pleasant Hill. The Lady Tigers beat Pleasant Hill Friday in overtime, 56-49.

In other Lady Tiger Classic games Saturday: Joplin won the Classic championship with a 45-35 victory over Raymore-Peculiar.

Morgan Secrist scored 27 points, including 12 of 15 at the free-throw line, to lead the Lady Eagles to their first Lady Tiger Classic crown.

Joplin led 11-8 after one period of play and pretty much controlled the game from the onset, despite playing their third game in three days.

Alex Harvey led Ray-Pec with 12 points and she was rewarded by joining teammate Sara Pfister and Joplin's Secrist on the all-tournament team.

Carthage defeated El Dorado Springs in the third-place game 60-44. Meghan Waggoner, who scored a tournament record 77 points during the tournament, had 27 Saturday to lead Carthage. Waggoner was also named to the all-tournament team.

Carthage outscored El Dorado Springs 20-14 in the third quarter to pull away from the Lady Bulldogs, in a sloppy game for both teams.

Freshman Bailey Bush led El Do with 17 points.

In the seventh-place game Saturday at Nevada Middle School, Pleasant Hill had no trouble with Kansas City Southeast, winning 62-18.

The Chicks, ranked second in the state in Class 4 coming into the tournament, went 1-2 at the Lady Tiger Classic.