Lady Cats take fifth in MAAA Tournament

The Lady Cats Basketball Team rode the ninth seed to a fifth place finish in the MAAA Tournament, last week at Mineral Area College.

The Lady Cats opened with a victory Feb. 8 over Bismarck and then a loss to top seed (and tourney champ) Central. Friday night, they defeated Farmington, 55-41; and Saturday they topped Ste. Genevieve, 56-49.

Fredericktown jumped to a 20-10 lead in the first quarter, as Annabeth Phillips hit four three-pointers.

Farmington rallied in the second quarter. The Knightettes closed the Cats’ lead to 22-16. Consecutive baskets by Abby Clark made it 27-16. The Cats still led 30-21, until Farmington made four free throws in the final 26 seconds of the half to cut the Cats’ lead to five points.

Paige Godsey and Raylyn Dodd scored the first two baskets of the third quarter. On defense, the Cats’ press forced multiple turnovers. Fredericktown was able to increase its lead to 40-26. The lead was 47-34 with a  quarter to play.

Phillips and Godsey paced the Cats with 17 points, each. Clark scored 12, Ellie Jensen scored seven, and Dodd had two. Clark added seven rebounds. Jensen had five steals, Godsey had six assists, and Dodd blocked three shots.

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Saturday, the Lady Cats held Ste. Genevieve to just four first quarter points. Fredericktown led 13-4 after one quarter and 25-20 at the half.

After a close third quarter, the Cats led just 35-32 entering the fourth.

Godsey hit six of eight three-point attempts to score a team-high 23 points. Phillips scored 12, Jensen had nine, and Dodd and Clark each scored six. Dodd had ten rebounds. Godsey had five assists.

The Lady Cats play at Arcadia Valley, Thursday.

Paige Godsey fights a Farmington player for a loose ball, while Lexi Amelunke helps defend.