JEWELL – On a night when the Future Rams looked upon and patiently awaited their time at halftime to take the floor in an exhibition, the current Lady Rams gave them a lesson in never quitting.
A big home crowd at Tinora High School would witness the tail of two halves, literary.
After the Lady Locos jumped out to a 16-4 end of first quarter lead, things were not looking good for the green and white as the home crowd looked on.
Tinora could not get a shot to fall or grab a rebound over the first 10 minutes of the non-league contest.
Montpelier would increase their lead to 19-4 on a Lady Locos three by Kaycee Humbarger with 7:15 remaining in the second quarter.
A Nova Okuley runner cut the lead down to 19-6 and seemed to start the Tinora comeback. The Lady Rams would outscore Montpelier 13-6 over the final six minutes to cut the Lady Locos lead at the half to 25-19.
Tinora was paced by Nova Okuley and her 7 points.
Montpelier’s Jada Uribes seemed unstoppable at times in the initial half.
The third quarter saw the Lady Rams defensive effort step up. Tinora would limit the Lady Locos to just one shot in most of their possessions, meanwhile the Lady Rams would get the offense flowing over the final 16 minutes.
The Lady Rams would tie the game at 28-28 and grab their first lead of the game 29-28 on Liv Mueller free throw with 90 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
The Tinora defense would limit the Montpelier offense to just three points in the third quarter.
Lady Rams head coach Andrew Thiel would use the crew of Mueller, Durfey, Norden, Nagel, and Harr to limit the Lady Locos attack.
Coach Thiel would go with those five most of the fourth quarter as the Lady Rams would again limit the Locos offense. Montpelier would not score in the quarter until the 1:32 mark, by then, the Last Rams had stretched the lead to double digits, coming away with a hard fought team win, 42-30.
The tight, fighting Lady Rams defense allowed just two second half points, and an amazing five second half points.
Tinora’s Maggi Nagel would have a great second half for the Rams, ,limiting the Locos Uribes to just 4 second half points.
Montpelier 16-9-3-2=30
Tinora 4-15-10-13=42
Montpelier scoring – Bumb6, Hopper 0, Uribes 14 0, Hilliard 0, Humbarger 3, McGee 5, Grime 2, Taylor
Tinora scoring – D Sines 0, Norden 2, Harr 0, Lee 5, Nagel 9, K Okuley 6, Mueller 7, Durfey 4, N Okuley 9
JV _-Tinora 42-19
Norden 11, K Nagel 8
Mont – Ramos 5
With the win, the Lady Rams improve to 8-8. Tinora will host Hicksville on Thursday, 1/26. Get out and support the Lady Rams.
Montpelier drops to 9-8. The Lady Locos will travel to take on the Cadets of Hilltop on Thursday, 1/26.
The Higbea Embroidery Player of the Game went to Lady Rams senior, Maggie Nagel. Maggie ended with 9 points and led the defensive charge in the second half.
