Lady Mohawks end season against Mustangs

"Despite the way our season went, the girls had a no quit attitude," Coach Alan Rabjohn noted of this year's Lady Mohawk basketball team. The girls, and their three seniors, wrapped up this year's campaign Monday afternoon in the district tournament at Earle as they fell to Hoxie 31-46.

"We got a lot better at the things that we had to as the year went on," the first year head coach observed. "By the end of the season we were giving teams that had blown us out earlier a real run for their money--we got better at executing and really took a step in the right direction."

Facing the Lady Mustangs for the third time this season, the Tribe knew they would have their hands full. "They beat us by 30 the first time at their place, but the second time we played they only got us by 11--Monday's game was actually closer than the final score indicated because we had to foul them down the stretch," Rabjohn added.

As the contest got underway the two teams swapped baskets early, and the score stood 8-10 in favor of the Mustangs at the end of the first quarter. Both teams stepped-up it up some in the second frame, and by the halftime break Hoxie enjoyed a 14-19 lead over the Tribe.

The third quarter was much of the same, as the Mustangs outscored the Mohawks 9-6 in the frame and took a 20-28 lead into the fourth. Down the stretch the Tribe was forced to foul the Mustangs to manage the clock, and Hoxie was able to convert on the majority of those free-throws. As a result they held on for a 31-46 win to advance.

Leading the way in her final game was Penny McCluskey with 11 points, while Heather Scott and Breanna Wright finished with 6 points each. As for the other two seniors, Sheleen Johnson fouled out late in the game with 3 points and Taylor Coomer finished with 2.

"We're really going to miss Penny McCluskey, Taylor Coomer and Sheleen Johnson," Rabjohn noted. "Penny has done a great job handling the ball for us this year. Taylor is just so smart, and she did a great job in the paint against girls that were often bigger than she is. She got us a lot by rebounding and thinking. Sheleen hustles all the time --- in a game, at practice or lunchtime --- she hustles and gives you 110 percent. There is no quit in any of these girls."

In the other first round game Monday it was Rivercrest over Tuckerman 75-39. Tuesday afternoon Harrisburg and Brookland were to meet, and Hoxie and Rivercrest are scheduled to play at 6 p.m. Wednesday evening. Both the top seeded Corning Lady Bobcats and the Earle Lady Bulldogs have byes to the semi-finals, which are set to be played at 4:00 and 7 p.m. Friday at Earle High School.