Caleb Riordan | Ameritime Sports Writer
The Festus Tigers beat the Perryville Pirates 50-47 on Thursday for their fourth straight win. Festus previously lost their last two matchups with the Pirates.
After they started the year 1-5 the Tigers have completely flipped the script on their season. They rattled off four straight wins and battled to get their record back to .500.
The Tigers started the game slowly. The Pirates outscored them 12-9 in the first quarter. It did not take long for Festus to turn things around. They settled in and figured things out in the second quarter. They scored 17 points and held Perryville to only four. The Tigers led 26-16 at halftime.
Festus built on their lead in the third. They added 12 more points to their total and only allowed the Pirates to score nine. They led by double-digits going into the final eight minutes. Perryville tightened things up and came storming back in the fourth. The Pirates had their best quarter of the day with 22 points. The Tigers did everything they could to cling to their lead. They scored 12 in the quarter and it was enough to pick up the 50-47 win.
“We made smart passes and moved the ball well,” Mya Courtois said after the win.
Courtois led the team with 13 points and shot 5-9 from the floor. Josie Allen was just behind with 11 points of her own. She also grabbed a team-leading 14 rebounds to give her a double-double. Emily Holt was the only other Tiger in double figures with ten points. She also pulled down nine rebounds and had six assists. Lily Knickman scored eight points and had nine rebounds. Taylor Thompson scored five points and Tristan Foulk scored three.
The win puts the Tigers’ record at 5-5. Something has clearly changed in this locker room that has allowed them to turn things around. Thompson credits it to the team’s communication.
“We talk to each other and remind ourselves of things to do in the game,” she said. “Telling each other we can do it and when we all give positive input to each other in hopes of winning.”
Winning is addictive, especially when you start the year losing. This Tigers squad has tasted victory and wants to keep things rolling.
“We have all come together and have become closer,” Allen said. “We really want the wins right now and have just changed our overall mindset coming into these last couple games.”
Festus looks to make it five in a row and move its record above .500 on Monday, Jan. 25 against Union.
