The Higbee girls received votes in the latest Missouri Basketball Coaches poll and traveled Friday night to Mendon to play Northwestern with the intent of proving why. They did just that with a 58-28 win over the Eagles.

Higbee took the first quarter 18-3 before outscoring the Eagles 12-7 in the second to hold a 30-10 advantage at intermission.

Northwestern came out of the locker room firing, outscoring the Lady Tigers 14-8 in the third quarter to draw within 14 with the score 38-24. The Lady Tigers put the pedal to the metal in the fourth quarter, outscoring Northwestern 20-4 to win 58-28.

Basketball can be a streaky game and this contest proved to be just that. “We got out to a 28-5 lead in the first half, then Northwestern responded with a 19-4 run to close the gap to eight points,” said Higbee coach Tanner Burton. “We closed the game on a 26-4 run.” 

Freshman Ronnie Welch grabbed another double-double as she scored 25 points and had 10 rebounds. To add frosting on the cake, she had six steals and three assists. “I was proud of Ronnie stepping up and really just finding ways to create separation for us when things were not going our way,” said Burton. “That’s pretty solid leadership from a freshman and it’s inspiring for the potential she has in the years to come.”

Freshman Marilynn Ritter posted 11 points on the night and sophomore Isabelle Welch added eight. Junior Emma Johnson put up five while sophomore Kylleen Gibson contributed four. Senior Macey Whisenand added three and freshman put in two to finish out Higbee’s scoring. 

“I was proud to see the energy and the work of the girls in the fourth quarter when they closed out the game,” said Burton. We are young and learning and will continue to tighten things up each night.”

The Lady Tigers played Hardin-Central Tuesday after The Advertiser went to press. They will play Thursday at Breckenridge before taking on Braymer at home on Friday night at 6 p.m. Friday’s game will be both courtwarming and senior night.