Despite Haselby’s clutch 3, Pioneer drops opener vs. Tri-County

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

ROYAL CENTER — What might have been an inspiring comeback victory turned into a heartbreaking loss for the Pioneer girls basketball team in its season opener at The Cage against Tri-County Saturday.

Evalynn Ross scored nine of her game-high 15 points in the fourth quarter as the Lady Cavaliers pulled out a 33-29 win.

Mia McKaig scored eight points, Hannah Zeigler had seven, Avery Haselby had six, and Liz Kennell had five for Pioneer, who was playing Tri-County for the first time since a 53-27 loss in February in the sectional final.

Both teams struggled from the foul line: Tri-County was 9 for 21 while Pioneer was 4 for 14.

McKaig, a senior shooting guard and Pioneer’s most experienced player and leading returning scorer, fouled out with 4:22 left.

Pioneer trailed 28-22 at the time, but they went on a 7-0 run without her. The run included a Mya Ott jumper from the left baseline, a Leah Zeigler free throw and a game-tying 3-pointer from Haselby.

When Haselby hit a go-ahead free throw with 1:24 left, Pioneer, who trailed 12-0 at one point, had their first lead at 29-28.

But Ross scored the final five points of the game.

She split a pair of free throws with 36.0 seconds left. The she hit the go-ahead 15-foot jumper with 16.7 seconds left to put Tri-County back ahead 31-29.

Pioneer coach David McWherter called timeout. Tri-County went to a fullcourt press, and that led to Haselby being called for traveling. Ross then finished the scoring with two free throws with 6.7 seconds left.

“After those first five minutes of the ballgame, we probably outplayed them the rest of the way,” Pioneer coach David McWherter said.

Tri-County led 22-12 on a Ross post banker, but they scored only one point in the final 7:25 of the third quarter.

Hasleby hit a 19-footer, McKaig drilled a 3 from the left wing, and Hannah Zeigler split a pair of free throws with 2:26 left. When Kennell scored on a putback, the lead was down to two.

Tri-County led 23-20 after three quarters. McKaig’s fourth and fifth fouls came in a 1:39 span in the fourth quarter as Tri-County built the lead out again.

“Well, obviously, Mia is a big part of bringing the ball up against pressure and being the calmness of our storm,” McWherter said. “That’s probably what it was. We missed that leadership from her and the experience that she has on the court. Now we’ve got to figure out a way to not only score points but also just take care of the basketball and also a big part of it is rebounding. … Mia makes up a big difference on the defensive end of the court too.”

Three-pointers from Grace Tyler and Grace Luck began the scoring. A Madie Spencer left baseline jumper, two Ross free throws and a Ross steal and layup gave Tri-County a 12-point lead.

Pioneer would work the boards to get within 16-11 in the second quarter. Hannah Zeigler had three putback baskets, Kennell would also score off an offensive rebound, and McKaig hit a 3.

A six-minute field goal drought would follow.

“We’re not the greatest shooters in the world,” McWherter said. “That’s no secret at all, and it’s going to show at the free throw line. Until we get that taken care of, it’s going to be a thorn in our side all year for us. That’s huge. If we can hit some free throws here and there and give us that opportunity to stay, I think they were going to fold a little bit, or at least they were going to get a little nervous that they were going to get beat.”

Tri-County 33, Pioneer 29

TRI-COUNTY (29) (1-0)

Grace Tyler 1 0-0 3, Grace Luck 2 1-5 6, Madalynn Iseminger 0 1-2 1, Madie Spencer 2 2-2 6, Evalynn Ross 5 5-8 15, Grace Scheitlin 1 0-2 2, Mackenzie Burns 0 0-0 0, Alivia Pritts 0 0-0 0, Abby Miller 0 0-0 0

TEAM: 11 9-21 33

PIONEER (29) (0-1)

Avery Haselby 2 1-4 6, Mia McKaig 3 0-0 8, Leah Zeigler 0 1-4 1, Liz Kennell 2 1-4 5, Hannah Zeigler 3 1-2 7, Hailey Ortez 0 0-0 0, Tori BIngaman 0 0-0 0, Mya Ott 1 0-0 2

TEAM: 11 4-14 29

Three-point field goals:

Tri-County 2 (Luck, Tyler),

Pioneer 3 (McKaig 2, Haselby)

Total fouls: Tri-County 18, Pioneer 18

Fouled out: McKaig (PIO), 4:22, fourth

Turnovers: Tri-County 19, Pioneer 22

Score by quarters

Tri-County 16 4 3 10 – 33

Pioneer 9 3 8 9 – 29