By Tyler F. Thompson (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
MARIONVILLE, Mo. — The Marionville Lady Comets (21-7) fell to Miller 46-38 on Feb. 18.
To say that loss ignited an internal fire would be a vast understatement for the Comets.
On Tuesday evening at Marionville, the Comets exacted their revenge as they bested the Cardinals 57-52 — sending Marionville to the Class 2 quarterfinals at Norwood (24-5) on Saturday.
This marks the first win for Marionville in 13 games against the Cardinals.
Given the combined records of the two teams (39-14), the game lived up to the billing.
“This group of girls, they have been competitive all the way,” said head coach Casey Young, who is in her fourth season as the Comets head coach. “When we played them at their place this season, I think we got up 10 and just couldn’t finish.”
On this night, finishing was not a problem, as the Comets erased more than a handful of deficits, and 5’4” sophomore guard Lanie Stokes took advantage of her time at the free-throw line, knocking down four-of-four, and had a crucial assist to Anna Bright on a back door cut late in the fourth.
Good players want the ball during the waning seconds, and Stokes was no different.
“When we were down by one (50-49 with 1:50 remaining), I just knew that I had to get to the bucket, because the shot hasn’t been falling,” said Stokes, who finished with 16 points. “I knew I needed to get to the bucket to make my team the most successful. At the end of it, I knew that I had strong ball-handling, so I can trust my team.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
The Comets trailed 45-40 as the fourth quarter commenced.
Anna Bright pulled up for the mid-range jumper, followed by Stokes, whose shot never hit the rim, just the nylon net.
Dally Pomeroy, with a little more than three minutes remaining, took the rock on the far wing and connected for the 3-pointer, and the Comets had their first lead of the quarter.
“Dally and Anna Bright are great shooters, so if they closed down on me, that was amazing for use because I can kick it out to my shooters and I know they will make it.”
Miller’s Ashlynn Helton drilled the trey, keeping her team in the thick of things down the stretch.
A Marionville turnover gave an added possession to Miller, as Loghann Leivan scored on the layup.
A backcourt violation, though, gave the ball back to Marionville.
One of a few vital mistakes down the stretch for the Cardinals.
A missed layup by Miller was just what the basketball gods ordained on this night, as Stokes took over on the dribble penetration, giving the home team the 51-50 lead.
The defense, when called upon in the crucial final seconds, held tight to close out the night.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE GAME
“They were not leaving here without a win,” Young said.
The Comets improve to 10-1 at home.
This makes the first postseason win for the Comets against the Cardinals (1-3).
Scoring for Marionville: Dally Pomeroy – 20 (led all scoring); Lanie Stokes – 16; Maggie Murphy – 3; Anna Bright – 12; Avery Eden – 2; Rylie Fletcher – 4.
Scoring for Miller: Rachel Nunez – 6; Ashlynn Helton – 9; Layni Johnson – 5; Loghann Leivan – 21; Kaylee Thom – 2; Kendall Neely – 9.
