The Cinderella Tigers of Worth County forgot they were supposed to be a pushover against everybody. After their win over Mercer to start the season, they played Platte Valley tough for a half, only to come back down to earth. Against Pattonsburg, they were supposed to wear down against the relentless pressure of Kaitlyn Jones, but despite 23 points from her, the Tigers got the win. The last time they won a tournament game was in 2022 against Pattonsburg in the Albany Tournament, 43-41. Against Stanberry, the Bulldogs' depth fueled by a promising freshman class was supposed to wear down the Tigers in the consolation game; Stanberry had worn down North Andrew. But Worth County, after leading 19-15, outscored Stanberry in the second half and pulled away for the 44-35 win. They continued that trend Monday against North Nodaway, as they cooled off an improving Mustang squad by beating them 46-19.
The Tigers have been showing similarities with Andy Reid's first Chiefs squad back in 2013. The 2013 Chiefs put up similar numbers to the 2012 squad except in one respect -- the giveaway/takeaway ratio. In 2012, the Chiefs were one of the worst teams in that category and finished 2-14. In 2013, they were outgained by a similar margin, but were one of the best teams in the giveaway/takeaway ratio and were 11-5. Similarly, the Tigers have suddenly become one of the best teams at taking the ball away and one of the best teams at handling the ball after turning it over 30+ times a game last year.
The problem for Tiger opponents is that different people have stepped up every night. Against Mercer, nobody scored more than 9 points, yet the Tigers won. Against Pattonsburg, Kristen Tracy had a monster night with 22 points and 16 boards while Audrey Runde added 16 despite battling second half foul trouble. Against Stanberry, it was Rylee Ruckman who came alive with 17 points followed by Megan Tracy with 10. Against North Nodaway, it was Kristen Tracy who had 22 again, and Runde following with 15.
The Mustangs, after a bad start against North Harrison with a 35-13 loss, had been getting better after that game. They played a good Stewartsville/Osborn squad tough before losing 31-23. Lily Blane came alive for the Mustangs as they broke the 30 point barrier, beating Union Star 35-24 and led an always tough DeKalb the whole way before winning again 37-34 to get consolation in the PVI.
It was easy to see why they had improved, as the rebounding had gotten much better since the first game, with Jackie Wray holding her own against Kristen Tracy on the boards in Monday night's game. Mya Hansen had the hot hand for them early with two triples to give them a 6-4 lead, and Lacy Riley added a baseline shot to give them an 8-6 lead with 20 seconds left in the period. But then Rayleigh Smith hit Kristen Tracy inside for two with 10 seconds left and then Megan Tracy got a steal and fed Kambree Briner at the buzzer to give the Tigers the 10-8 lead and the momentum.
The momentum continued into the second quarter as Kristen Tracy hit Audrey Runde backdoor and then Kambree Briner and Audrey Runde fed Tracy inside to make it 16-8. But then North Nodaway stopped the bleeding as Jackie Wray kept them in it with six boards in the second period and got a putback to cut the Mustang deficit to 16-10.
But then Audrey Runde and Keira Hardy fed Tracy inside and then Tracy found Megan Tracy for three to raise the lead to 23-10. Lacy Riley got a putback and Lily Blane got on the board with two free throws, but then Keira Hardy twice found Kristen Tracy inside to break the run and make it 30-15 after three.
With North Nodaway falling into the stagnant offense that they showed against North Harrison, Worth County took full advantage as Runde hit a free throw and then jumped a pass. Rylee Ruckman hit Kristen Tracy inside, Megan Tracy hit from just inside the three point line, and Audre Runde hit a 3-pointer and then finished a drive. Keira Hardy capped the 18-0 run with a steal to put the Tigers up 44-15 at the 1:47 mark.
Worth County once again won behind the giveaway/takeaway ratio as they forced 20 turnovers while surrendering the ball only five times. But they will be facing a much tougher challenge Tuesday night as Northeast Nodaway, which fell hard against Nodaway Valley, went up against highly touted King City Monday night and stunned them 33-28. It will be a good battle as Baylie Busby is one of the best at taking the ball away while the Tigers are one of the best at handling the ball so far this year.
For Worth County, Kristen Tracy had 22, Audrey Runde 15, Megan Tracy 5, Kambree Briner 2, and Keira Hardy 2.
Kristen Tracy and Audrey Runde each had 3 blocks.
Kristen Tracy had 9 boards. Kambree Briner, Audrey Runde, and Rylee Ruckman had 5 each, Megan Tracy 2, and Keira Hardy and Rayleigh Smith 1.
Kambree Briner had 6 assists. Kambree Briner had 5, Rylee Ruckman, Megan Tracy, Kristen Tracy, and Audrey Runde had 2, and Rayleigh Smith had 1.
Kambree Briner had 8 tips. Keira Hardy had 6, Audrey Runde 3, and Kristen Tracy, Megan Tracy, Rylee Ruckman, and Rayleigh Smith had 2.
Keira Hardy and Kristen Tracy had 3 steals. Rylee Ruckman, Megan Tracy, and Kambree Briner all had 2, and Audrey Runde had 1.
For North Nodaway, Mya Hansen had 6. Jackie Wray had 5, Lacy Riley had 4, and Lily Blane and Addalea Barcus had 2.
Jackie Wray and Lacy Riley did all they could to keep the Mustangs in the game with rebounding. Jackie Wray had 10 rebounds, Lacy Riley 7, Addalea Barcus and Lily Blane 5 each, Trynzlee Ebrecht 3, and Mya Hansen and Taccoa Moyer 2.
Lily Blane had 3 assists. Addalea Barcus, Alanis Wray, and Lacy Riley had 1.
Lacy Riley had 5 tips. Lily Blane had 2 and Addalea Barcus and Jackie Wray had 1. Jackie Wray, Mya Hansen, and Addalea Barcus had 1.
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