By Staff
The T.R. Miller Lady Tiger basketball team improved to 9-2 during a recent stretch of games in Florida and claimed the consolation trophy with a third place finish.
The Lady Tigers competed in the Choctawhatchee High School Playground Area Shootout in Ft. Walton over the Christmas break.
The Lady Tigers dropped their first game of the tournament with a 34-30 loss to Bearden of Tennessee. Bearden went on to claim the runner-up spot in the tournament.
After falling to Bearden in game one, the Lady Tigers received a forfeit win from Raines, Fla. on Monday advancing the Lady Tigers to the consolation game of the tournament.
In the consolation game, the Lady Tigers improved to 9-2 overall and 2-1 in the tournament with a 64-36 win over West Port of Florida.
T.R. Miller Lady Tiger head coach Ron Jackson was pleased with his teams play in the tournament after the opening loss.
T.R. Miller Lady Tiger Nakiya Smith was named to the All-tournament team for the Tigers.
Bearden, Tenn. 34, T.R. Miller 30
In the tournament opener for the Lady Tigers in the Playground Area Shootout, the Lady Tigers ended their seven game win streak and dropped to 7-2 with a 34-30 loss.
Bearden outscored the Lady Tigers 9-4 in the first quarter, but in the second quarter the Lady Tigers outscored Bearden 8-7 to cut the lead to 16-12 at the half.
In the second half, Bearden held an 8-5 lead in the quarter to extend their lead to 24-17 and was able to hang on for the win and defeat T.R. Miller by four points.
Smith led the Lady Tigers with 11 points. Kesha Peterson and Keydra Shedrone followed with seven points.
Zykeya Barton added five in the loss for the Lady Tigers.
T.R. Miller 64, West Port 36
After an opening loss in the tournament and a forfeit win, the Lady Tigers improved to 2-1 in the tournament and to 9-2 overall with a 28-point win over West Port, 64-36.
The Lady Tigers had 11 players score in the win.
Smith led the Lady Tigers with 17 points and Kesha Peterson followed 11.
Janel McCorvey followed with eight points and Hillary Boyd and Zykeya Barton had five points.
Catherine Green and Ashley Williams added four points along with Desiree Gibbs. Courtney Jones, MyNetra Boley and Shaniqua Kiser all had two points.
The Lady Tigers led 11-6 at the end of the first quarter and then outscored West Port 15-14 in the second quarter to hold a 26-20 lead at the half.
In the second half, T.R. Miller outscored West Port 38-12 (14-6 in the third quarter and 24-6 in the fourth quarter) to win by 28 points, 64-36.
T.R. Miller was set to be back in action on Saturday when they traveled to Butler to face area rival Choctaw County.
The Lady Tigers and the varsity Tigers will be back in action at home on Tuesday when they face off in another area game, this one against Bayside Academy.
No B team game is scheduled for the night.
The Lady Tigers and Bayside girls will be tipping off the schedule around 4:30 p.m.