Lady Tiger middle school teams dispatch Butler

Nevada's Allison Bower (30) and Abby Harder (10) double-team Butler's Jasmine Riley during the first half of Monday night's eighth-grade game at Nevada Middle School. (Photo by Matt Resnick/Daily Mail)

Nevada's middle school basketball teams dazzled on the court Monday night at home, as the Lady Tiger seventh and eighth-grade basketball squads cruised to victories over the Butler Bears.

In the eighth-grade game, Nevada held a 22 point lead early in the fourth quarter, before Butler went on a late run, trimming its deficit to single digits. Despite the fourth quarter push by Butler, Nevada prevailed 44-33 improving to 3-0 on the young season.

Midway through the first quarter of the eighth-grade game, Nevada point guard Allison Bower sank a 3-pointer from the right wing, putting the Lady Tigers on top 7-2. Nevada led 11-6 after an Abby Harder pass found Kaylee Duncan, who knocked down a midrange jumper.

With 3:50 to play in the second quarter, Bower's outlet pass to a streaking Duncan for the lay-in handed the Lady Tigers a 16-6 advantage. Nevada ended the half on an 8-0 blitz, with the final four points coming courtesy of Brinna Ream free throws.

Nevada's lead grew to 18 when Tylin Heathman led a 3-on-2 fast break, with Maleigha Hinton's layup putting the Lady Tigers up 30-12.

With 3:01 remaining in regulation, a Heathman backcourt steal and lay-in gave the Nevada a 42-22 lead. Butler showed no signs of letting up, ending the game on an 11-2 run.

For Nevada, Ream finished with a team-high 11 point, including knocking down 7-of-12 from the charity stripe, while Duncan also finished in double-figures with 10 points. Heathman added nine; Bower, five; Harder, five; and Hinton four.

Seventh-grade game

The Lady Tigers seventh-grade team played its most complete game of the season as they flattened Butler 40-2. The victory improves NMS to 2-1 overall.

Nevada dominated in the post, as center Claire Pritchett recorded a double-double, tallying a game-high 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Nevada Lady Tigers seventh-grader Jerica Collins comes up with a steal and basket during the second half of Monday's 38 point victory over the Butler Bears. (Photo by Matt Resnick/Daily Mail)

"To me, the story of this game was our post play," Lady Tigers seventh-grade coach Danny Penn said. "All of our posts owned the glass."

Penn said his squad had struggled on the boards over the course of the first two games.

"(Rebounding) was a focus in Friday's practice," Penn said, "and to the girls' credit, they brought it tonight. Claire had a double-double and Jerica (Collins) and Macy (Cussimanio) both had over five rebounds apiece. I'd guess around half of our points came on put-backs."

Penn said he was also pleased with his team's perimeter play.

"Our perimeter players did a nice job reading passing lanes and getting steals," he said. "Having Grace (Barnes) back healthy helped us get into our offensive sets more fluidly. Tonight was a nice step forward."

In addition to Pritchett's 16 points, Cussimanio added 10; Barnes, eight, Collins, four; and Taylor Thompson, two.