The Lady Cats Basketball team captured its second straight Central Tournament Title, and for the second year in a row, the Cats topped the St. James Lady Tigers.

Fredericktown jumped to a huge early lead, survived a run by the Tigers, and won, 58-46.

The game was tied at 4-4, early in the first quarter, before the FHS defense forced several turnovers and jumped to a 23-6 advantage after one period. Courtney Kemp had ten points in the period. The lead increased to 31-8, when Megan Moser hit a free throw with 3:47 to go in the second quarter. St. James then went on an 8-4 run to end the quarter. The halftime score was 35-16.

The third quarter was another good period for the Tigers, as they outscored Fredericktown, 15-9. The Cats lead was 44-31 entering the final quarter.

Fredericktown go to the free throw line often in the fourth quarter, but the Tigers continued to close the gap, as they went on a 14-6 to make it a five-point game (50-45). In the final 1 minute, 49 seconds, Fredericktown outscored St. James 8-1 to pull away.

Kemp led the Lady Cats with 23 points. Ward had 11, Moser had ten, Kylie Oertel, Lauren Henderson, and Ashley Mascaro had four each, and Johnna Tinnin had two.

Thursday night, January 3, the Lady Cats traveled to Cape Girardeau to take on the Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs.

The host Bulldogs won, 56-43.

Notre Dame jumped to a 17-8 first quarter lead. Both offenses were clicking in the second quarter, as FHS scored 13, and Notre Dame pumped in 15 points to take a 32-21 halftime lead.

The third quarter was Fredericktown’s best. Courtney Kemp scored eight points, and Kylie Oertel had four, to help the Cats narrow the margin to 41-37.

A 15-6 final period, where Notre Dame went 9-10 from the free throw line, ended the chances of a Cats comeback.

Kemp led the Lady Cats with 15 points. Oertel had 14, Tricia Ward, Lauren Henderson, and Ashley Mascaro each scored four, and Johnna Tinnin had two points for FHS.

Monday night (January 7), the Lady Cats won, 69-14 at Potosi.