Lady Tigers thankful for season-opening victory over Southwest
November 27, 2019
Lee Stubblefield
The Southwest Lady Trojans travelled to Exeter on Monday night hoping to end a 47-game losing streak. Since posting a 15-12 positive season in 2015-16, Southwest has struggled. The Lady Trojans lost their last 21 games in 2017-18 then suffered a winless campaign last season. But Southwest starts this season with a new coach, some new faces and a clean slate.
Destiny Jalbert, a Missouri State product and a 1996 Cassville graduate, takes over the Southwest program this year. Her roster reveals a very young team but one that she describes as “very energetic." The Lady Trojans defeated Lamar at their Jamboree and played within 6 points of Neosho.
“We are ready to compete,” Jalbert said.
The host Exeter Lady Tigers also have their share of goals for this season. After posting a 14-13 record last year with a roster that included only one senior, the Lady Tigers and coach Dennis Highfill hope to reach the 20-win plateau this year.
On Monday night, when the Southwest and Exeter girls resumed their old rivalry in the season opener for both teams, it was Exeter that found a way to win in a sloppy foul fest that took over two hours. The two teams combined to shoot 59 free throws in the back and forth contest.
Southwest grabbed a lead at the end of the first quarter, a quarter that saw both teams struggling to score. A 3-3 snoozer with less than three minutes on the clock, this game finally perked up a little as Brylee Wilson drained a jumper in the final minute to give her Lady Trojans an 8-5 advantage.
Southwest seemed ready to take control, jumping to a 12-6 lead when Anna Church scored with 5:35 left in the second quarter. But Exeter’s Aubrey Antle canned a pair of late treys as the Lady Tigers took a 21-14 halftime lead with an 8-0 finishing run.
Tori Rose scored the first bucket of the third quarter to give the Lady Tigers a 9-point advantage. However, the Lady Trojans chipped away at that lead, pulling within a deuce twice. Southwest’s starting freshmen guards, Church and Emily Wilson, hit back-to-back threes to cut the lead to 28-26 at the 2:26 mark. Then, after Lindsey Nelson raced the length of the court for an Exeter layup, Southwest’s Emily Wilson drained free throws to trim the lead to 30-28 as the quarter ended.
Then Southwest forged ahead in the final quarter. Timely free throws gave the visitors a 36-31 lead with just 5:47 remaining.
In a span of 19 seconds, both Southwest starting guards fouled out. Then, starting forward Haily Erwin joined them on the bench with 3:45 left to play. Nelson swished both free throws, but Southwest still clung to a 37-35 lead.
Southwest had few ball handling options left. A spate of turnovers followed, and Exeter took advantage of the miscues to claim a 43-37 lead with 1:30 left. Turner added a free throw, but Dulin answered with a driving layup to cut the lead to a single score with 18 seconds to go.
The Lady Tigers turned it over in the front court, but Southwest could not score as the clock ran out on a 44-41 Exeter victory.
When the dust settled, Exeter had escaped a determined Southwest effort. The Lady Tigers dominated the boards in the second half and hit clutch free throws down the stretch. Lindsey Nelson carried the Lady Tigers in the second half, scoring 14 of her 20 points after intermission.
Southwest saw the losing streak reach 48, despite a gritty team effort.
The Lady Trojans return to action next week in the Diamond Invitational. Exeter will play at Marionville on December 10.
Exeter scorers: Lindsey Nelson, 20; Macy Barrett, 9; Aubrey Antle, 8; Tori Rose, 5; Hailey Mattingly, 2.
Southwest scorers: Destiney Dulin, 15; Emily Wilson, 13; Anna Church, 5; Brylee Wilson, 5; Haily Erwin, 3.
Lee Stubblefield
The Southwest Lady Trojans travelled to Exeter on Monday night hoping to end a 47-game losing streak. Since posting a 15-12 positive season in 2015-16, Southwest has struggled. The Lady Trojans lost their last 21 games in 2017-18 then suffered a winless campaign last season. But Southwest starts this season with a new coach, some new faces and a clean slate.
Destiny Jalbert, a Missouri State product and a 1996 Cassville graduate, takes over the Southwest program this year. Her roster reveals a very young team but one that she describes as “very energetic." The Lady Trojans defeated Lamar at their Jamboree and played within 6 points of Neosho.
“We are ready to compete,” Jalbert said.
The host Exeter Lady Tigers also have their share of goals for this season. After posting a 14-13 record last year with a roster that included only one senior, the Lady Tigers and coach Dennis Highfill hope to reach the 20-win plateau this year.
On Monday night, when the Southwest and Exeter girls resumed their old rivalry in the season opener for both teams, it was Exeter that found a way to win in a sloppy foul fest that took over two hours. The two teams combined to shoot 59 free throws in the back and forth contest.
Southwest grabbed a lead at the end of the first quarter, a quarter that saw both teams struggling to score. A 3-3 snoozer with less than three minutes on the clock, this game finally perked up a little as Brylee Wilson drained a jumper in the final minute to give her Lady Trojans an 8-5 advantage.
Southwest seemed ready to take control, jumping to a 12-6 lead when Anna Church scored with 5:35 left in the second quarter. But Exeter’s Aubrey Antle canned a pair of late treys as the Lady Tigers took a 21-14 halftime lead with an 8-0 finishing run.
Tori Rose scored the first bucket of the third quarter to give the Lady Tigers a 9-point advantage. However, the Lady Trojans chipped away at that lead, pulling within a deuce twice. Southwest’s starting freshmen guards, Church and Emily Wilson, hit back-to-back threes to cut the lead to 28-26 at the 2:26 mark. Then, after Lindsey Nelson raced the length of the court for an Exeter layup, Southwest’s Emily Wilson drained free throws to trim the lead to 30-28 as the quarter ended.
Then Southwest forged ahead in the final quarter. Timely free throws gave the visitors a 36-31 lead with just 5:47 remaining.
In a span of 19 seconds, both Southwest starting guards fouled out. Then, starting forward Haily Erwin joined them on the bench with 3:45 left to play. Nelson swished both free throws, but Southwest still clung to a 37-35 lead.
Southwest had few ball handling options left. A spate of turnovers followed, and Exeter took advantage of the miscues to claim a 43-37 lead with 1:30 left. Turner added a free throw, but Dulin answered with a driving layup to cut the lead to a single score with 18 seconds to go.
The Lady Tigers turned it over in the front court, but Southwest could not score as the clock ran out on a 44-41 Exeter victory.
When the dust settled, Exeter had escaped a determined Southwest effort. The Lady Tigers dominated the boards in the second half and hit clutch free throws down the stretch. Lindsey Nelson carried the Lady Tigers in the second half, scoring 14 of her 20 points after intermission.
Southwest saw the losing streak reach 48, despite a gritty team effort.
The Lady Trojans return to action next week in the Diamond Invitational. Exeter will play at Marionville on December 10.
Exeter scorers: Lindsey Nelson, 20; Macy Barrett, 9; Aubrey Antle, 8; Tori Rose, 5; Hailey Mattingly, 2.
Southwest scorers: Destiney Dulin, 15; Emily Wilson, 13; Anna Church, 5; Brylee Wilson, 5; Haily Erwin, 3.
