Lady Cats win tourney opener

By Kevin Jenkins | December 31, 2014 |

According to the pre-tournament seeding, the Fredericktown Lady Cats Basketball Team pulled off the upset of the Central Christmas Tournament Friday afternoon. The Lady Cats, seeded seventh, topped the second seeded De Soto Lady Dragons, 42-39 to advance to the semifinals, Monday.

The victory was the fifth in a row for the Lady Cats, who have gotten healthier and improved since the tournament seeds were handed out.

The first quarter against De Soto was a close one with two lead changes and two ties. Callista Francis gave the Cats their first lead at 5-4. The Lady Dragons took a 9-6 lead with a three-pointer by Brittney Krodinger with 18.2 seconds left.

Fredericktown got two free throws, each, from Annabeth Phillips and Raylyn Dodd to cut the De Soto lead to 11-10 with 6:12 to play in the second quarter. De Soto then scored four quick points. The Cats trailed 17-13, when Dodd put back an offensive rebound. Paige Godsey tied the game with a three-pointer with 49 seconds left in the half. The Dragons scored five straight points, but Phillips’ jumper at the buzzer cut the deficit to 23-20 at the half.

Phillips made a three-pointer to start the third quarter and tied the game at 23. In a low scoring quarter, the Junior Guard tied the game at 28-28 with a basket with 53.9 seconds left. Ellie Jensen added a pair of free throws with 7.5 seconds left in the third quarter, and the Cats had their first lead (30-28) since the game was 6-4.

The fourth started with a free throw and a basket from Godsey and Fredericktown led 33-28. Neither team scored for almost three minutes before Courtney Grodinger scored with 4:45 left to get De Soto to within three points at 33-30. Godsey hit a pair of free throws, Dodd made a basket, but De Soto stayed close. The Dragons Faith Sherrow scored with 49.4 seconds left to cut the Fredericktown lead to 39-38. Jensen made a pair of free throws with 41.1 seconds left. De Soto made a free throw and got the ball back with 23 seconds left, down two points. Fredericktown’s defense got a stop. Godsey made one free throw and the Cats held on for the victory.

Godsey led the Lady Cats with 13 points. Phillips scored 11, Jensen scored seven, Francis scored five, Dodd scored four, and Clark scored two. Dodd and Francis each had ten rebounds. Godsey had four assists.

Monday afternoon, the Lady Cats lost to third seeded Arcadia Valley, 65-43 in the semifinals. Central topped Potosi, 64-34 in the other semifinal, Monday.

Fredericktown will play fifth-seeded Potosi in the third place game, at 3 p.m. this afternoon. Fredericktown hosts (Cape) Notre Dame, Jan. 8.