Ladies Take 47-40 Victory Over Greenwood
    by Jon Fulbright, Staff Writer ~~ The Monahans News, January 5, 2007

The Monahans Lady Loboes spent a little over three quarters Tuesday night maintaining a narrow lead over the Greenwood Rangerettes.  But after Greenwood finally caught up early in the final period, the Loboes would go on a 11-0 run, more than enough to a give them a 47-40 victory over Greenwood.

Kellie Almanza hit a short jumper and then a lay-up after Greenwood tied the score twice, at 31 and 33-all to start the final period.  Catherine Cutbirth then hit a side jumper and Dina Ortiz followed with a pair of 3-point shots as part of her game-high 18 points.  The first came off two missed free throws by Bethany Willmon, and her misses came off a missed second foul shot by Almanza, as Monahans was able to get a number of offensive rebounds down the stretch.

"Dina hitting those 3s got us fired up down the stretch," said Loboes' coach Treasure Thaggard, who said she thought her team was a little flat before breaking things open in the final period.

"Catherine Cutbirth had a little stomach virus, and I think coming off four games at the (Reagan County) tournament didn't help. We just had a short practice this morning, but I think having a full practice and not having school will help us when we go to Midland Christian on Friday."

Monahans never trailed in the game, scoring first off a Cutbirth foul shot and then a lay-up by Jordan Latham, off a missed free throw by Cutbirth.  Greenwood was able to stay close, thanks to a couple of 3-point baskets by Danna Howard and Morgan Cox, But a basket by Almanza and a Cutbirth foul shot put Monahans up by a 13-9 score after one period.

The lead would grow to nine, at 22-13, midway through the second period, off a lay-up and 3-pointer by Ortiz and a Latham basket.  But basket by Cox, Amy Pruitt and Brownyn Hays cut the lead back to five at halftime.  In the third period, Howard and Ashley Unger would get the Rangerettes with in one point a couple of times, and Greenwood would finally tie things up in the fourth period when Kendall Ivie rebounded her own missed shot and scored.

Almanza and Cutbirth also were in double figures for the Loboes with 10 and 11 points.  Both would also go the the foul line 10 times on the night, where the Loboes hit 18 of 31 free throws compared to just 6-for-12 from from the line for Greenwood, which was led in scoring by Unger's 14 points.

The win lifted Monahans to 7-10 on the season, and came after they had gone 2-2 at the Mary Tatum Holiday Tournament in Big Lake.  The Loboes dropped their opener to Brownwood by a 58-41 score.  Ortiz had 12 points in that game to lead Monahans, while Jensen Knickerbocker had 19 to top the lions in scoring, as Brownwood scored half of their points in the final period, after going in up by only a 29-28 margin.

Monahans bounced back with consolation bracket win over Eldorado and Ozona,  Before falling to McCamey in the consolation finals.  The Loboes downed the by a 50-41 score, after jumping out to a 24-16 lead at halftime.  Ortiz had 14 points and Latham 12 in the win, while Eldorado's Kristen Stubbs led all scorers with 15 points.

In beating the other group of Lions, Monahans held Ozona to just 13 second half points after trailing by three a halftime.  Ortiz had 11 of her 17 points in the third period, when Monahans outscored Ozona 12-3, while Latham also was in double figures for Monahans with 15 points. Meagan McDaniel led Ozona with 12.

In the loss to McCamey, Monahans was unable to contain Badgers' post Erin Adams, who scored 30 points to lead her team to a 45-38 victory. The Loboes led by two after one period and were up 25-16 at halftime, but this time they were the ones held to 13 second half points, with Almanza the only player able to score in the fourth quarter.  She and Cutbirth finished with nine points while Ortiz led Monahans with 11.

Monahans' games with Midland Christian on Friday are scheduled for 5 and 6:30 p.m.  The teams played last month in the finals of the Sandhills Tournament, with the Mustangs using a 19-6 run in the fourth quarter to break open a one-point game and win by a 46-29 score.  Hope Hellams had four 3-pointers as part of a game-high 16 points for Midland Christian, while Cutbirth led Monahans with 10.

The Loboes' JV lost to Greenwood on Friday, by a 29-26 score . Quinn Carter and Kassie George led Monahans with six points each.

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