This past week, the Festus High School Girls Varsity Basketball team competed in the 36th Annual Rebel Christmas Tournament. The Tigers from Festus entered as the number four seed in the eight team tournament, hosted by Park Hills Central taking place from December 27th-31st.
In the opening round of the tournament, Festus was matched up against the number five seed Potosi. It was a rough outing for the Lady Tigers as they fell behind early putting up 14 points in the first half, while Potosi doubled their score with 28. The second half showed the Lady tigers were down but not out as they hung with the Trojans, each putting up 15 more. However, Festus only managed five total points in the fourth quarter, and lost the game by the score of 52-34.
The Tigers only shot 28 percent from the floor, including going zero for 11 from beyond the arc. Kinsey Benack was biggest highlight for the squad, scoring eight points, grabbing six rebounds, making three assists and nabbing four steals.
With the first round loss, Festus was pushed to the Fifth Place bracket where they were paired up against Arcadia Valley, the number eight seed. Festus wasted little time jumping out to a healthy 21-8 lead after the first quarter. The margin widened to 20 points after one half of play, with the game well in hand for the Tigers, 36-16. The scoring frenzy continued in the second half for Festus, and there was no looking back as the Tigers shut the door, winning by nearly 30 points, 66-37.
Head Coach Steve McFarland was pleased with his team’s game two performance. “We played more relaxed and within ourselves. We had better ball movement on offense, which resulted in better looks at the basket.” Those better looks earned the squad a much improved field goal percentage of 38, and a remarkable 40 percent, going six of 15, from the beyond the three-point line.
It was the Josie Allen show this time, as she scored 25, dished out eight assists and grabbed five rebounds. Emily Holt also contributed 14 points, eight steals and seven rebounds.
In the fifth place and final game of the tournament for Festus, the team faced the sixth seed Fredericktown. Both schools sought to end the tournament on a win, even if not for the championship. The Black Cats had just walloped Ste. Genevieve rather easily to advance, so the Tigers had their work cut out.
The Tigers defense was impressive early, holding the Black Cats to only six points in the first quarter, but Festus also struggled to find the net. After the slow first quarter, the Tigers came to life to sink 20 points, taking a lead into the break 25-18. In the third quarter, the game tightened as Fredericktown pulled to within two points. The Tigers would hold on for the three point victory and the fifth place plaque, winning the game 51-48.
Some key free-throw shooting down the stretch helped the Tigers secure the win, including Benack going four for four from the line. However, Allen was unstoppable, scoring 27, including four three-pointers. Lily Knickman and Holt each chipped in seven. Anna Arman also came off the bench and drained a big three, contributing valuable minutes and points in a foul-plagued front court.
The Tigers may not have finished at the top of the pile, but they’ll have to be happy with where they landed. Festus will now look down the road to the second half of the season, as they prepare for the next challenger.
