Lady 'Cats get first win

The teams were deadlocked at 14-all at the end of the first quarter, but the Lady Wildcats pulled away during the next two periods.

With Gonzalez burying four of the six three-pointers should would sink during the contest and junior Niki Kruger tallying 10 points, Slater went on a 36-24 run.

The Lady Tigers narrowed the gap slightly during the final frame, but the Purple made six of eight free throws to keep a safe distance ahead.

Keytesville (0-2) lived at the charity stripe, making 23 of 36 attempts -- including 14 of 20 by senior Heidi Koehl, who finished with 20 points. Junior Megan Schupback added 16 points for the Lady Tigers.

Kruger had a strong overall performance with 19 points, nine assists and five steals. The Lady 'Cats (1-1) will meet the winner of tonight's Glasgow-Fayette contest in the fifth-place game Friday.

Meanwhile, the Slater boys were smothered by Fayette in their consolation semifinal, 55-21. The Falcons, behind three buckets each from seniors Ryan Sherman and Xavien Crump, rolled to a 28-7 first-quarter lead and never looked back.

Sherman and Crump combined for 25 points to lead Fayette (1-1).

The Wildcats had more turnovers (34) than shots from the field (19).

"We have to protect the ball and become more patient," said first-year Slater head coach Mike Arnold. "Everybody will press us until we figure out you have to pass the ball up the floor instead of putting your head down and dribbling."

Junior Jermie Pittman had seven points and junior Tyler Bishop scored six for the 'Cats (0-2), who meet Fayette again Tuesday on the road for their Lewis and Clark Conference opener.