By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
WALNUT GROVE – In a battle of state powers, the visiting Skyline Lady Tigers pulled away in the second half to get a big road win, 58-49, over the Walnut Grove Lady Tigers in nonconference play Tuesday night.
The two teams, with 11 state titles between them, played a close first half, with Skyline holding a one-point lead (23-22) going into halftime.
Coming out in the third, Skyline got the jolt it needed, offensively. Sophomore Alyee Gunter stepped up and scored 13 of Skyline’s 21 points to give the Lady Tigers some breathing room and some momentum – especially with fellow sophomore Miranda Quennoz being held scoreless in the quarter.
“Alyee Gunter finally made some shots,” Skyline coach Kevin Cheek said. “She had a 3-pointer, too, and got an easy layup. We needed a jolt of offense somewhere, and she kind of helped us out there and kind of got us started.
“Miranda went scoreless, and we kind of had a hard time getting (the ball) to Justine Barb, and Emma (Crawford) didn’t really look to shoot, so Alyee stepped up there and played well for us in that stretch.”
But, Gunter wasn’t alone. Cheek had two other players score in double figures – something he said his team has needed this season.
“When I first started this, we were in the same conference way back when, and so we had lots of battles,” Cheek said of Walnut Grove. “Coach (Rory) Henry does a great job, and Faith Gilkey is an awesome player in the group he’s got. But, if you come to Walnut Grove and get a win, somebody has to step up and Alyee did that this evening.
“This time of year, it’s hard to find games that are like this. But, we’ve got a stretch of three or four more to go, so it just makes us better in the long run.”
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Barb added 18 points and Quennoz had 13 as Skyline, which is ranked sixth in Class 2, improved to 15-7 overall.
“Early in the year, we were kind of missing that balance,” Cheek said. “Tonight, we kind of had some balance and somewhere around the second week of January, we started finding that balance. And, once we find that balance, you know, it’s hard to guard four kids.
“I think we’re starting to find an offensive rhythm a little bit, and against a good quality defensive club like Walnut Grove, that’s encouraging this time of year.”
Gunter knew it was important for her to step up in order to help her team against the second-ranked squad in Class 1.
“Scoring there was a big deal with my teammates, just getting me open and getting me the ball, moving the ball and making baskets when we needed them,” Gunter said. “We were really excited (about facing Walnut Grove). I mean, they were state champs last year. It was exciting, and we really wanted to beat them. We know that they’re a good team. We were just ready to go.”
Coach Henry said his team knew what to expect against a team like Skyline.
“Skyline’s a good team; they’re a great team,” Henry said. “We knew that they’d be physical and they’d guard. They do very similar things to what we wanted to do. They just did it better tonight; they came ready to play. We just didn’t have our head in the game like I felt like we could have tonight, so I’m disappointed.”
Walnut Grove, which fell to 17-5 overall, was in the game until Skyline created some space in the third quarter.
“We didn’t come out of the locker room engaged, and they did,” Henry said. “And, it’s a big run that they went on. They’re very scrappy. They play as hard as any team we’re going to play, and so I think they just wore us down a little bit.
“We’ll learn from it, though, and we’ll get better.”
With just three games remaining in the regular season, Gunter said her team hopes to use Tuesday night’s win as a springboard to a district, and maybe a conference, title.
“We’ll just keep going and get ready for districts; that’s what matters,” Gunter said. “Hopefully, we can beat Forsyth (Friday), then maybe Strafford (Feb. 17) and win the (Mid-Lakes) conference. That’s what we’re looking forward to.”
Nonconference game
SKYLINE 58, WALNUT GROVE 49
SKYLINE 12-11-21-14—58
WALNUT GROVE 9-13-16-11—49
WALNUT GROVE (17-5) – Jaedyn Johnson 6, Faith Gilkey 21, Makayla McVay 7, Cortney Stevens 2, Lauren Johnson 13.
SKYLINE (15-7) – Miranda Quennoz 13, Alyee Gunter 20, Justine Barb 18, Emma Crawford 5, Allison Nothnagel 2.
Skyline B 19, Walnut Grove B 12 (1 half)
