By JASON VIOX / Daily Journal Sports Writer

Published: Friday, February 24, 2006
Updated: Friday, February 24, 2006 8:53 AM CST

PARK HILLS - The Central Lady Rebels and the Crystal City Lady Hornets had some shooting fits in the first half of Thursday's contest. Both teams had their fair share of missed lay-ups or close shots. Central made more of their shots count in the third quarter and their defense forced a few turnovers. The Lady Rebels finished with a 49-37 victory.

The scoring started for Central when Jennifer Dunlap stole the ball and finished with a lay-up, but Teri Marler countered with two straight buckets to take the lead. Marler knocked down a pair of free throws, but Kristen Gunder retaliated with one of her own, and Jessica Lawson recorded a putback before the quarter came to a close. The Lady Rebels held a small 8-7 edge.

Central missed several scoring opportunities which led to a 6-0 scoring run for Crystal City that lasted for most of the quarter. Andrea Tessereau, Alex Perry, and Kayla Helwig all had a jump shot for the Lady Hornets during the drive. Dunlap got the Lady Rebels' first and only basket of the second quarter with 1:08 left in the half, but Blair Douglas came through with a couple of free throws to give Crystal City a 15-10 advantage at half-time.

Meagan Hudson buried a three for the Lady Hornets, and Marler contributed a jump shot, but that was all Crystal City had for the third quarter. The Lady Rebels closed the frame with a massive 16-0 scoring run to take a 30-22 lead. Dunlap and Amber Kennedy ended the quarter with back-to-back lay-ups from steals.

The two teams traded four points before Perry sank a couple of free throws, but Central's Chelsea Pinson drained a big three pointer with 4:22 left in the game. Marler brought the Lady Hornets within five points on a few free throws, and Hudson added a three for a 41-37 contest with 1:49 left in the contest. Gunder put the game out of reach with a jump shot and a couple of free throws, and Lindsey Harris and Pinson both added a pair of points before the end of the game.

“In the second half we really turned up our defense,” commented Central's coach Craig Allen. “It was a frustrating night as a coach and as a fan to watch the girls get wide-open lay-ups and missing them, but they hit the ones that mattered towards the end and that's all that matters. It was a good win before districts.”

Marler led all scorers with 14 points, and Hudson added eight for Crystal City. Gunder posted a team-high 13 points for the Lady Rebels, and Harris and Dunlap contributed 10 and nine points respectively.

Central, now 14-12, will host the Class 3, District 3 tournament starting on Monday. The second-seeded Lady Rebels will take on No. 7 seed Grandview at 8:30 p.m.

Crystal City - 7 8 7 15 - 37

Central - 8 2 20 19 - 49

SCORING:

Crystal City - T Marler 14, M Hudson 8, A Tessereau 5, A Perry 4, K Helwig 4, B Douglas 2.

Central - K Gunder 13, L Harris 10, J Dunlap 9, C Pinson 7, J Lawson 6, A Kennedy 2.

3-Pointers - M Hudson 2, C Pinson.

West County 65, Grandview 45

LEADWOOD - The West County Lady Bulldogs relied on their defense and pulled down several rebounds in Thursday's game against Grandview. West County went ahead 15-5 after the first quarter, and the Lady Bulldogs ended with a 65-45 win.

Courtney Boen and Chelsey Kelly both had 19 points for West County, and Emily Rasnick closely trailed with 18 with four three pointers. Rasnick also pulled down 12 rebounds and had eight assists. Courtney Dugan finished with a team-high 15 points for Grandview.

The Lady Bulldogs, now 9-15, will play next in the district tournament at Central. West County will take on Herculaneum on Monday at 7 p.m.

Grandview - 5 13 9 18 - 45

West County - 15 17 18 15 - 65

SCORING:

Grandview - C Dugan 15, J Moses 12, A Bequette 10, N Freund 4, J Hilkenkamp 3, K Hardy 1.

West County - C Boen 19, C Kelly 19, E Rasnick 18, M Myers 8, A Roney 1.

3-Pointers - E Rasnick 4, J Hilkenkamp.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Grandview 86, Kingston 28

HILLSBORO - The Kingston Cougars struggled against Grandview on Thursday night. Grandview piled up a 51-15 lead at the half and ended with a convincing 86-28 win.

Larry Lemons finished with a team-high 10 points for the Cougars, and Gary Decker contributed nine. Josh Bequette and Steven Allen both scored 15 points for Grandview.

Kingston will host Bunker tonight.

Kingston - 7 8 11 2 - 28

Grandview - 14 37 25 10 - 86

SCORING:

Kingston - L Lemons 10, G Decker 9, Bran Merseal 5, D Merseal 4.

Grandview - S Allen 15, J Bequette 15, C Legens 11, White 10, J DeRousse 8, J Hayes 5, E Logsden 5, A Cooper 5, J Robinson 5, D Level 3, Prater 3, M Mayberry 1.

3-Pointers - S Allen 3, C Legens 3, L Lemons 2, G Decker 2, D Level, A Cooper, Prater, E Logsden.