SHS Lady Tigers’ season comes to an end with loss to Mustangs

The Stockton Lady Tigers saw their season come to and end last Friday evening when the Sylvan-Lucas Lady Mustangs defeated them 47-31 in the first round of the Class 1A, Div. I Sub-State Basketball Tournament in Sylvan Grove. The Lady Tigers, who had just three seniors (Olivia Dix, Delany Snyder and Michel Smith) on the squad, finished with a record of 4-17.

Despite the record, Coach Alexa Rogers was encouraged at the progress she saw in her team throughout the season. “This season's ending record doesn't reflect the amount of growth and success our team had. Each game was a challenge, as playing in the MCL is no cake walk. Playing bigger schools each Tuesday and Friday night was tough, but the girls never let competition get in the way of growing each week. Our goal all season was to be better than you were the game before, and I think all our girls would agree that they did just that. We are a young team that had several freshmen filling big roles in a varsity game. I'm proud of the progress they made, the heart they played with, and the endless effort they showed all season long,” stated Coach Rogers.

Friday’s game against Sylvan-Lucas got off to a good start for Stockton with the Lady Tigers leading 8-2 at the end of the first quarter. However, it was the second and fourth quarters that hurt Stockton as they gave up 17 points on five treys and a basket in the second period, and 22 points in the final period. The Lady Tigers got over half of their points from the charity stripe, making 16 of 24 in the game.

After trailing 19-15 at the intermission, and only being down by two, 25-23, going into the final eight minutes, it looked as if the Stockton girls might be poised for an upset, but a 22-point fourth quarter by the Lady Mustangs sealed the 47-31 victory, bringing an end to the Lady Tigers’ season.

Stockton was led in scoring by Olivia Dix with a game-high 15 points.

Brooke Wehrman led Sylvan-Lucas, who improved to 17-4 on the season, with 12 points. Emma Finkenbinder added 10.

Stockton 8 7 8 8—31

Sylvan-Lucas 2 17 6 22—47

Stockton—Kesler 2, Olivia Dix 15, A. Dix 4, Means 3, Hoeting 6, n/a 1. Sylvan-Lucas—Cline 6, Emma Finkenbinder

Sylvan-Lucas—Cline 6, Emma Finkenbinder 10, Labertew 6, Knobbe 7, Brooke Wehrman 12, Nondorf 4.

Lady Tigers vs. Phillipsburg

In their last home game of the season on Tuesday, February 22, Stockton hosted the Phillipsburg Lady Panthers. The talented visitors got out to an early lead and cruised to a 58-33 victory.

Ava Dix sank a free throw less than a minute into the contest to give the Lady Tigers a 1-0 lead, but it was short-lived as Phillipsburg quickly answered to take a 2-1 advantage. The Lady Panthers were then up 6-1 before Olivia Dix’s shot at the 3:43 mark cut the margin in half, 6-3. Unfortunately, Phillipsburg would go on a 20-0 run over the next eight minutes to take a 26-3 lead with 4:55 to go in the second quarter.

Olivia Dix’s shot a minute later put an end to the run, but despite a basket by Kaelyn Means and two more points by Dix, Stockton trailed 34-9 at the intermission.

Standout junior Taryn Sides opened the third period with a layup to extend the Lady Panthers’ lead to 36-9, but over the next six minutes the Lady Tigers would outscore their opponents 13-10 on baskets by Ava Dix, Means, and Olivia Dix, a trey by Means, and four free throws by O. Dix. By the end of the third quarter, Phillipsburg was on top 54-22, and went on to win 58-33. Olivia Dix scored seven of the Lady Tigers’ 11 points in the fourth period, with Means and Bodye Stithem adding the remaining four points.

Olivia Dix led Stockton in scoring with 19 points.

The Lady Panthers were led by Taryn Sides with 29 points. Kayla Jacobs added 10.

Phillipsburg 16 18 20 4—58 Stockton 3 6 13 11—33

Phillipsburg—Cheney 2, Taryn Sides 29, Babcock 4, Kayla Jacobs 10, Keeten 7, Billings 4, Dierking 2. Stockton—Olivia Dix 19, A. Dix 3, Stithem 2,

Stockton—Olivia Dix 19, A. Dix 3, Stithem 2, Means 9.