Marshall Democrat-News: High School Sports: Prep Hoop Round-up: Lady 'Cats pick up L&C victory (02/13/09)

SLATER -- The Slater girls' basketball team avenged last month's road loss to Lewis and Clark Conference rival Paris with Thursday's 56-48 victory.

Junior Niki Kruger scored eight of her 11 points during the first half to give the Lady Wildcats a four-point lead, then junior Brittany Cornine tallied eight points during a 17-7 third-quarter run.

Slater took a 14-point lead into the final frame, making eight of 14 free throws down the stretch to keep the Lady Coyotes at bay.

Junior Tessa Henderson led all scorers with 19 points and senior Alex Kennedy added 13 points and 11 rebounds for Paris (10-10, 3-3 L&C).

Senior Rachel Gonzalez topped the Purple with 16 points, with Kruger dishing out seven assists and coming up with five steals.

The Lady 'Cats (14-6, 4-3), now in third place in the league standings, host Westran today.

Kirksville 60, Marshall 23

KIRKSVILLE -- Kirksville blew out to a 38-3 halftime lead Thursday and disposed of Marshall with a 60-23 NCMC home win.

Junior Jackie Bishop scored all nine of her points before the break for the Lady Tigers (11-11, 8-3 NCMC), although senior Blair Riley topped the scoring list with 15 points.

Freshman Allie Bockstetter's 10 points and four rebounds paced the Lady Owls (1-21, 0-10), who during the second half scored 20 points -- only two fewer than Kirksville -- and committed only four turnovers.

Marshall will begin the final week of the regular season Monday by hosting league foe Hannibal.

,em>Boys

Paris 72, Slater 31

SLATER -- Junior Jon Gilliam's 20 points led visiting Paris to an easy Lewis and Clark Conference win Thursday at Slater, 72-31.

Four first-quarter buckets by junior Taylor Barr helped the Coyotes to pull out to a 22-7 start. Paris held a 34-13 advantage at halftime and 29 points during the third period -- when Gilliam hit three bombs -- put the victory on ice.

Barr and senior Garrett Thomas each produced 13 points for the Coyotes (14-7, 4-2 L&C).

The Wildcats (3-16, 0-7) got six points from junior Chris Scott.