Lady Tigers fall victim to Middleton in season debut

For a half, the Mountain Home Lady Tigers had things much their way, but in the second half were outscored 33-15 to fall victim to Middleton, 50-41, in their conference basketball opener in Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium last Tuesday night.

Mountain Home shot out to a 7-0 lead in the first two minutes of the ballgame but Middleton fought back to tie the game at 7-7 with 3:33 left in the quarter.

Baskets by Rachel Warila, Charde Huntington and Arlene Futch pushed the Lady Tigers back out front, 13-7. They led 15-11 after a quarter.

Middleton managed to come within one, 17-16, with 6:51 left in the half, but the Lady Tigers went on a 9-1 run the rest of the quarter to take a 26-17 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Charde Huntington drained a trey to start the third quarter that upped the Mountain Home lead to 29-17, but turnovers and poor shooting by the Lady Tigers allowed Middleton back in the game, as they crept within one, 33-32, heading into the fourth quarter.

Momentum was with the Lady Vikings in the fourth quarter as they outscored Mountain Home 18-8 to win the game 50-41. Mountain Home Lady Tigers coach Brent Keener said the team lost its focus in the second half.

"That first half, I was obviously pretty pleased. We were a little out of control even in the first half, but that second half, Middleton wanted it more. We just lost sight of our person defensively -- way too many easy baskets in that third quarter -- and offensive put-backs for them. I thought we got some pretty poor looks that whole second half, too, (although) Shelby (Posey), down low... got nailed a few times and still put them in."

Posey led the Mountain Home scoring with 15 points -- 10 in the second half. Dakota Barrie had seven points, Charde Huntington six, Arlene Futch five, Rachel Warila four, and Jessica Liercke and Blas Lord both scored two points.

Middleton outscored Mountain Home 15-7 at the free-throw line, the Lady Vikings connecting on 15 of 20 and Mountain Home hitting seven of 10.

Middleton was not whistled for a foul in the second half while Mountain Home collected 10. Total fouls in the game were 18 for the Lady Tigers and seven for Middleton.

The loss dropped the Lady Tigers to 3-1 on the season and 0-1 in conference play.

The Lady Tigers were at Jerome Tuesday night and get back to conference play Thursday, traveling to Emmett to face the Lady Huskies.