Nixa nixes Lady Tigers

Nevada junior Kristen Badgley struggles against the defense of Nixa's Ashlee Luko (31) during Tuesday's game in Carthage. Nixa toppled top-seeded Nevada, 50-45, in the Carthage tournament.

By Joe Warren

Nevada Daily Mail

CARTHAGE, Mo. -- Converting only four of 13 free throw attempts in the second half, the Nevada Lady Tigers lost their first game of the season Tuesday, falling to the Nixa Lady Eagles 50-45 in the opening game of the 12th Annual Lady Tiger Invitational.

The top seeded Lady Tigers (6-1) struggled with the Nixa (9-5) defensive pressure, turning the ball over 13 times in the first half but the fourth-seeded Lady Eagles still only led by four at halftime.

In the third period Nixa senior Ashlee Luko knocked down a pair of treys to help the Lady Eagles extend their lead to 10 and it was a free-throw shooting contest in the fourth quarter. Nixa (14 of 18 from the line in the game) took care of business.

"We're a good free throw shooting team," Nevada head coach Brent Bartlett said searching for answers. "We got to the free-throw line, we just couldn't knock them down."

The Lady Tigers didn't look ready to play in the first half, appearing intimidated by the quick Lady Eagles, who started three freshmen.

"I don't know what it was," Bartlett said. "It was not us. It's almost kind of like 'all we have to do is show up and we're going to win.'"

Luko scored 21 points to lead Nixa, 14 of them coming in the second half.

Amanda Wilson scored 20 to lead Nevada, but even her trio of shots from outside the 3-point line in the fourth period weren't enough to overcome the Lady Tigers' futility at the charity stripe.

It didn't help matters that the team's leading scorer coming into the game, Afton Baldwin, fouled out with almost four minutes to play in the fourth. Nevada was down by seven at the time.

Baldwin was the only other Lady Tiger in double figures, scoring 10.

Abby Bracker scored 15 for Nixa, most of those coming as layups either on the offensive glass or in transition.

Nevada, which plays Carl Junction Friday as pool play continues in the tournament, will need a better approach according to Bartlett.

"We're going to have to play good basketball. If we come out like we did (Tuesday), we're going to be playing the Carthage JV on Saturday (for fifth place)."

The Carthage varsity beat the Carthage JV Tuesday in the only other game in the tournament, 62-24.