Lady Raiders spoil Mineral Area's homecoming

By JASON VIOX\Daily Journal Sports Writer

PARK HILLS - The Mineral Area Lady Cardinals wanted to celebrate their homecoming on Saturday by defeating their rivals, the 23rd-ranked Three Rivers Lady Raiders. Mineral Area trailed by five points down the home stretch of the contest, but the Lady Cardinals battled back and took the lead. However, a successful free throw from Three Rivers' Missy Whitney with 7.9 seconds left in the game gave the Lady Raiders a 54-43 win. In last year's match-up at Mineral Area, Whitney drained a three at the buzzer for the win.

Three Rivers had a big advantage in rebounds and free throws over the Lady Cardinals. The Lady Cardinals, however, kept in the game with their ballhandling by besting the Lady Riders in turnovers 18-36. Three Rivers attempted 31 shots from the charity stripe and made 18 attempts. Mineral Area had only 11 tries from the free-throw line and converted on four attempts.

Three Rivers' Amanda Lance handed her team a one-point edge on a jump shot and a free throw, but Dionn Jackson countered with a lay-up for the Lady Cardinals. April Redus posted two straight lay-ups, and Tierra Johnson and Missy Whitney both added a pair of points to give the Lady Raiders an 11-4 advantage.

Mineral Area went on an 8-2 scoring run to narrow the deficit to one point. Jackson drained a three, and Romona Golphin added a couple of lay-ups during the drive. Johnson broke up the run with a triple, and Three Rivers later went on a 9-2 scoring drive to take a 25-16 lead. The Lady Raiders scored five of those points from the free-throw line.

Britany Sublett retaliated with a couple of field goals, and Jackson added a lay-up and a three pointer for a 27-25 contest in favor of Three Rivers. Johnson sank a free throw before the end of the first half.

Johnson quickly drained a three and chipped in a lay-up at the start of the second half to give the Lady Raiders an eight-point lead. After a lay-up from Jackson, both teams traded six tallies before Mineral Area racked up nine consecutive points to take a 42-39 edge. Neicole Whitiker knocked down a three-point shot during the scoring run.

The Lady Raiders tied the game at 45-45 before Johnson picked off a pass and finished with a lay-up. Omega Key and Angelina Browne both contributed a couple of points to give Three Rivers a 51-46 lead. The Lady Cardinals were not done yet as they put together seven straight points to take a 53-51 edge. Erica Anderson drained back-to-back jump shots, Golphin added one, and Jackson came through with a pair of free throws.

Whitney tied the game with a couple of free throws with 50 seconds left. With the clock winding down, both teams went for a loose ball to force a jump-ball call. Mineral Area got the ball, but after a missed jump shot, Whitney got the rebound and was quickly fouled with 7.9 seconds remaining in the game. Whitney missed her first free throw, but converted on her second chance. The Lady Cardinals attempted one last shot from three-point range, but the shot didn't fall.

“It was close in every aspect except for free throws,” commented MAC coach Lana LaBruyere. “We had a lot of heart and a lot of effort into this game, so there was no shame in that.”

“They (Three Rivers) got some long-armed girls,” stated LaBruyere about the Lady Raiders' rebounding. “I think overall we did a pretty good job on their big girls, but we just couldn't finish.”

Jackson led all scorers with 17 points, and Golphin added 10 for the Lady Cardinals. Johnson finished with a team-high 15 points for the Lady Raiders, and Lance chipped in 10.

Mineral Area (13-10, 1-7 Region-XVI play) will visit Meramec on Wednesday.

Three Rivers - 28 26 - 54

Mineral Area - 25 28 - 53

SCORING:

Three Rivers - T Johnson 15, A Lance 10, A Browne 9, L Shelton 6, M Whitney 5, O Key 4, A Redus 4, H Burleson 1.

Mineral Area - D Jackson 17, R Golphin 10, E Anderson 8, F Henderson 6, M Rios 5, B Sublett 4, N Whitiker 3.

3-Pointers - D Jackson 2, T Johnson 2, N Whitiker.