By Calen VanNess (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Mansfield Lady Lions would have loved nothing more than to win the 28th Annual Mansfield Lady Lions Invitational Tournament, especially after winning the first two rounds by a total of two points.
The Licking Lady Wildcats had a different idea in beating the host Lady Lions in the title game.
It looked like the Lady Lions (11-7) were going to play in yet another close game, but in a span of less than two minutes, the Lady Wildcats (17-2) scored nine points late in the second quarter and never looked back as they cruised to a 55-41 victory.
After Mansfield clawed its way back to tie the game at 22-22 on a layup by junior post Karsyn Brooke, a series of events deflated the high spirits of the Lady Lions. With just under two minutes to play in the first half, Licking’s sophomore point guard Karlee Holland hit a three. Licking then proceeded to use their fierce defense to create three straight Mansfield turnovers. Senior guard McKenzie Cook then scored two fast-break layups with junior guard Lainy Hadix also getting into the mix with her own layup that put the Lady Wildcats ahead by nine.
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They did not slow down there as they came out of halftime and promptly put up 20 points in the third quarter and took a 51-32 lead into the last eight minutes.
Licking coach Steve Rissler was happy with his team’s performance and felt like they were now headed in the right direction once again.
“We’ve been struggling for a little bit,” said Rissler. “I think we kind of had a mid-season slump, and we were just ready to start hitting some shots and get after it again. I’m really happy with the effort. I think we might have peaked too early, and we are trying to get back to how we were early in the season. This is a good start for us for down the stretch.”
Although the offense was dynamic at times, the Lady Wildcats defense suffocated and irritated Mansfield the entire evening by creating 25 turnovers.
“We play a lot of 1-3-1 [zone defense],” said Rissler. “We try to get out in the passing lanes with our length. We don’t really have a true post player that starts, so we just try to use our speed and our length. They have some small guards, and it gave them trouble. We got a lot of easy looks and a lot of easy runouts.”
Licking got out to a shaky start as the Lady Wildcats turned the ball over seven times in the first quarter, but they calmed their nerves the rest of the night and had only eight turnovers the final three quarters of play.
“I think they were just nervous,” said Rissler about their early miscues. “Everybody was jacked up. It was a big game. I tried to hype it up to them so we could get used to that big game feeling, and maybe we jacked it up too much. I think that once we got through the first adrenaline rush we settled down. They started to do what they were supposed to do.”
Although Holland admitted it was not a great start for Licking, she was happy with the way her team played.
“I think it was kind of slow at the beginning, but once we got going and got our tempo we pulled it out,” said Holland. “We played a great second half. That was the best second half we played all tournament.”
Offensively, the Lady Wildcats were led by Holland’s 15 points and senior Dalrayn Feringa’s 13 points.
“Karlee obviously makes us go, and tonight Dalrayn played really well,” said Rissler. “[Dalrayn’s] been averaging about 10. She’s kind of a stretch four that people have to respect because she can shoot the three and is a good passer. She’s played in a lot of big games, and I really need to have those two keep their intensity up. Having McKenzie Cook get all-tournament team was really big for us, too.”
Holland credits her impressive all-around game to the work she puts into making her the player that she is.
“I work during the season and during the offseason,” said Holland. “I have a gym in my house. I’m always in the gym working on defensive stuff. That and free throws.”
The humble Holland was also awarded the most valuable player of the tournament.
“I don’t really look at myself as an MVP,” said Holland. “I have my teammates, and they make it happen, and that’s what it’s all about.”
Rissler is excited to see where the rest of the season takes his team.
“We are sitting in first tied with Plato in the Frisco League,” said Rissler. “We have some important games left. Most of them are at home, so I like our chances. We play Thayer late in the season, which will give us a good test going into districts, and hopefully we can defend our championship.”
Brooke led the way with 21 points for the Lady Lions.
The all-tournament team was made up of Cook, Brooke, Mansfield’s Chloe Lansdown, Norwood’s Josie Sullivan, and Houston’s Kaitlyn Root.
Licking faces Stoutland at home on February 1, while the Lady Lions travel to Bradleyville on January 29.
Box Score
Licking 14 17 20 4—55
Mansfield 9 14 9 9—41
Licking – Karlee Holland 15, Dalrayn Feringa 13, Abby Moncrief 7, McKenzie Cook 8, Lexi Hadix 4, Lainy Hadix 4, Anna Sullins 2, Athena Hood 2
Mansfield – Karsyn Brooke 21, Gracie Williams 6, Lauren Harris 6, Chloe Lansdown 3, Grace Roy 2, Megan Langley 2, Skylar Adams 1
