ELDORADO — It was a productive week for the Hamilton County Lady Foxes as they traveled down to the Eldorado Winter Classic.

For the week, the girls in green picked up four wins against only one loss, they upset the seventh ranked team in Class 1A in the Goreville Lady Blackcats, and they won four straight games before finally falling to the ninth ranked team in Class 2A in the state, Mt. Carmel, and their do-it-all player, Tyra Buss, in the championship game with a final score of 62-40.

Lady Foxes vs. Gallatin County

The Lady Foxes opened up action in the Eldorado Classic on Saturday, Jan. 14, taking on the Lady Hawks from Gallatin County. The Lady foxes scored the first basket as Alyssa Winemiller put in an 18-footer. The Lady Hawks tied the game at 2-2 and then the Lady Foxes reeled off the next eight points as Alicia York scored the next two baskets and was followed by Emma Moreton with two baskets of her own. Gallatin County finally scored and then Marcie Niekamp powered her way inside for two. Dana Rubenacker picked off a pass and went in for the easy layup for a 14-4 lead. Gallatin County managed to hit a trey just before the quarter end as the Lady Foxes had a 14-7 lead after one.

Dana Rubenacker got the second frame going with two baskets in a row. Gallatin County countered with two of their own and then Moreton hit a corner shot and Veronica Gay a 5-footer to build up a 10 point advantage. Gallatin County hung around as the Lady Foxes went in at the half up 27-20.

The Lady Foxes got after it on offense in the third as Niekamp scored the first four points of the third giving the Foxes a 31-20 lead. A 8-0 run gave the Foxes a 39-24 lead going into the fourth.

In the fourth, Jordan Scrivner got the offense going with a rebound basket and a free throw, and then Lucendia Adams scored twice to extend the lead to 46-24. Gallatin County made a small run late in the contest, but baskets by Gay, Scrivner and two free throws by Dana Rubenacker sealed the contest as the Lady Foxes won 53-39.

York and Dana Rubenacker both had 11; Moreton, 8; Niekamp and Adams, 6 each; Scrivner, 5; Gay, 4; and Winemiller, 2.

Lady Foxes vs. Carmi

The Lady Foxes had little trouble with Carmi on Jan. 16 as they defeated the Lady Bulldogs 44-16.

Lady Foxes vs. Goreville

On Jan. 18, the Lady Foxes met up with the Goreville Lady Cats and proceeded to show the Lady Cats how the Foxes play basketball. The girls in green rambled out to a 9-0 lead to begin the contest. Moreton drilled an 17-footer, then Winemiller hit from 17-feet, Moreton a free throw, a Niekamp a layup, and then a power score inside by Niekamp. With the Lady Foxes out to a quick lead, Goreville finally got on the board with a trey. Goreville got back into the game as York made a move inside as the Lady Foxes held to an 11-8 lead at the first quarter horn.

Goreville closed the gap to 11-10 on a jumper, but Moreton drained a trey and Winemiller lobbed into York for two. Dana Rubenacker then hit a banker and York added a free throw for a 19-10 advantage. York was a force in the second as the talented sophomore canned three more free throws, while Dana Rubenacker added one as the Lady Foxes went in at the half with a 23-18 lead.

Moreton started the fourth cashing in three free ones from the stripe for a 26-20 lead, then Niekamp stepped up her game and showed her outside touch with a long trey for a nine point advantage. Goreville took a timeout with 3:20 left in the third and began to chip away at the Fox lead. Goreville came within 32-26, but the Lady Foxes responded as Scrivner lobbed inside to York for two and Scrivner swished an 18-footer from the corner just as the third quarter horn sounded to give the Foxes back a 36-26 advantage.

The Lady Foxes showed their tough defese to begin the fourth quarter as Dana Rubenacker picked up a steal then Scrivner answered inside with a jumper. The Lady Foxes kept the 10 point lead until 4:23 left to play as Goreville began to trim the margin down to 43-38 with 2:51 to go. Goreville then had to foul, and the Lady Foxes stepped up to the line and canned eight in a row as Moreton added six from the stripe and Niekamp added two. That gave the Lady Foxes a 51-41 lead with little time left on the clock. Goreville fouled Winemiller with 5 seconds remaining and the senior made one to put the final score at 52-41.

Scoring were Moreton  with 18; York, 10; Niekamp, 9; Scrivner, 7; Dana Rubenacker, 5; and Winemiller 3.

“This is by far the biggest win I’ve ever had in McLeansboro Lady Foxes basketball,” coach Clint Winemiller said. “Goreville is a tremendous team, they are ranked seventh in the state in 1A basketball. I thought we gave away the game against them at Benton. They played their tails off. We’ve had two good battles. Tonight we were forunate to take care of the ball, make our little bunnies and our free throws down the stretch. We guarded the three better. We did a nice job on Webb inside. In the third quarter, our girls really got after them. I thought they did such a good job on both ends of the floor.

“I can’t be any more proud of them tonight,” Winemiller continued. “I was pretty excited when we got beat by only three, but since the first time we played them, I thought our team has taken off. Winning this game was a big step for us. I told the girls it won’t mean anything if we don’t come back against Eldorado and get after them too. I hope the girls enjoy it, I wish we had more days to enjoy this win. It was a good win for us. I thought Emma did a tremendous job taking care of the ball, George played well. I thought our freshmen kids stepped up. I thought Veronica did a great job gaurding people, Alyssa did a nice job. They are all playing well right now. We don’t want to peak too soon, but we are playing well. I can’t be more happy for these girls, they have lost some heartbreakers this year. These girls are just awesome.”

Lady Foxes vs. Eldorado

On Jan. 12, the Lady Foxes wrapped up pool play as they met up with the host Lady Eagles. The Lady Foxes went ahead 13-4 after one. The Lady Foxes had the outside hot hand as Winemiller hit a trey and an 18 footer, while her teammate Moreton started inside for two, but swished an 18 footer and a corner shot in the first.

Moreton canned a three pointer to give the Lady Foxes a 16-5 lead to begin the second frame, but Eldorado cut the margin to 16-10. Adams took over the scoring for the Foxes as the sophomore scored from the wing and added a rebound basket and two more from the field to put the Lady Foxes back up 22-12. Eldorado tried to stay close as they trimmed the lead down to 25-20 at the half.

The third started as Eldorado cut the margin down to three at 25-22, but the Lady foxes offense began to come to life as Niekamp scored inside. Moreton swished a trey and added two from the line, then York passed out to the wing to Niekamp for the 15 footer and Niekamp ended the run with two more from the stripe and quickly the Lady Foxes were up 12. A free throw by Moreton and another inside shot by Niekamp moved the lead to 41-28 at the third quarter stop.

The fourth quarter saw the Lady Foxes score at will as the girls in green finished up the game getting two free throws each from Adams, Winemiller and Dana Rubenacker to pick up the lopsided 54-37 victory.

Those scoring were Moreton with 18; Adams, 9; Niekamp, 8; Dana Rubenacker, 4; York, 3; and Winemiller and Gay 2 each.

“We had a big third quarter tonight,” coach Winemiller said. “I don’t think we adjusted to the officiating very well in the first half. Alyssa hit some shots, Niekamp did a nice job and Emma right now is playing unbelievable. In the third quarter I thought we did a nice job. I thought the girls all had a nice effort. Lucy did a nice job.”

Lady Foxes vs. Mt. Carmel

The Lady Foxes met up with powerhouse Mt. Carmel in the championship game on Saturday night, but Mt. Carmel had an ace up their sleave in sophomore sensation Tyra Buss. Buss scored 19 of the Lady Aces 27 first quarter points and at the end of the first, the Lady Foxes trailed 27-10.

The second quarter had a little less scoring as Mt. Carmel took a comfortable 40-20 lead at the half.

This game was never in doubt for the Lady Aces as Buss pretty much did what she wanted to. The third quarter saw the Lady Aces score 18 points, while holding the Lady foxes to 9. After three, the Lady Aces were up 58-29.

In the final frame, the Lady Foxes outscored the Lady Aces 11-4 to get within 62-40 at the end of the game.

Those scoring were Dana Rubenacker with 11; Moreton, 10; York, 6; Winemiller, Gay, Niekamp and Adams 3 each; and Scrivner 1.

Buss ended the game with 34 for the Lady Aces.

“We talked earlier in the day that they were going to come out and punch us right in the mouth, and that is what happened,” coach Winemiller said. “The first five trips they scored baskets. We dug ourselves a big hole. We never quit, but we had too many turnovers. We didn’t come out ready to go. I think we were nervous. We couldn’t stop Buss. Nobody has  figured out how to stop her, and I don’t think you can. I don’t think we have anything to be ashamed of. We busted our tails and did a lot of good things. We finished 4-1 and that was a heck of a week. We got beat by the ninth ranked team in the state and we took home a second place trophy. I like this little group of kids. They play hard and sometimes they make mistakes, but we battle to the end and that is all I can ask of them. I’m so happy for them. We have a tremendous team and as long as they believe that, we’ll be OK.”