Lady Cats hold off Valley with clutch free throws

PARK HILLS — The Fredericktown Lady Cats will play one more game in the MAAA Conference Tournament as they were able to make the necessary free throws down the stretch to claim a 37-28 win over the Valley Lady Vikings in a Consolation semi-final game.

 After Valley had diminished a 15 point Fredericktown lead down to three, both Brooke Tonjum and Jessica Wilkerson made a pair of free throws in the final minute of the game for the Lady Cats.  As a team, the Lady Cats had previously gone 6-18 at the line.

Katie Midgett started Valley’s comeback late in the second quarter with Valley’s only three-pointer in the game. 

After doubling up the Lady Vikings 24-12 in the first half, Fredericktown’s next basket would not come until two minutes into the fourth quarter. The Lady Cats had plenty of chances to score in the third quarter, but the Lady Vikings defense shut them out, 0-15 from the floor. Brittany Wanner salvaged the quarter for the Lady Cats with a pair of free throws.

Valley’s top point-getter Morgan Midgett was held scoreless by the Lady Cats in the first half of play, but the Lady Vikings managed to get her the ball in the second half, and Midgett was able to score all 10 of her game-high points during Valley’s comeback run.

Fredericktown (4-16) was able to build its early lead by gaining extra chances on the offensive end. The Lady Cats made 17 offensive rebounds in the second quarter alone, and they would use their height advantage to its fullest for 48 total rebounds in the game with 32 coming off the offensive boards.

The extra chances did not always lead to a score by the Lady Cats as they shot only 20 percent from the floor making only 12 of their 60 attempts. Terra Helm’s three in the quarter helped the Lady Cats build the 15-point lead. Helm finished the game with seven points tying her with Brooke Tonjum and Kara Lunsford with seven points for the team’s high score.

Valley’s only points in the second quarter came on two offensive putbacks by Callie Payne, before Katie Midgett’s rally starter.

  Both teams struggled to score at the beginning of the third quarter as Morgan Midgett scored the only basket in the first five minutes of the quarter on a coast-to-coast drive after making a defensive rebound.

Nicole Burns scored a much-needed three for Fredericktown in the fourth quarter.

Valley’s Next game will be on Tuesday when they will host Potosi in the second-round for the ‘Hog Trophy’.

Valley  5 7 6 10 – 28

Fredericktown – 9 15 2 11 – 37

SCORING:

Valley – Morgan Midgett 10, Callee Payne 6, Katie Midgett 5, Kristen Civey 3, Sam Morgan 2, Tatum Heifner 2.   3-point FG – K Midgett. (FT: 5-9)

Fredericktown – Brooke Tonjum 7, Terra Helm 7, Kara Lunsford 7, Nicole Burns 6, Jessica Wilkerson 4, Bridgett Allgier 2, Brittany Wanner 2, Abby Clark 2.   3-point FG – Burns 2, Helm.   (FT: 10- 22)