GRANGER – The Thrall Tigerettes (21-10 overall, 6-2 District 27-2A) raced out to a 14-3 lead in the first quarter of Tuesday night’s match-up with the Granger Lady Lions (4-15, 3-6), and never looked back as they coasted to a 66-24 win.
Thrall’s defense forced 43 Granger turnovers in the contest, including a dozen in each of the first two quarters. The Tigerettes were able to convert those turnovers into 35 points over the course of the game, and the first-half miscues allowed Thrall to take a 32-7 lead into the locker-room at the half. Miranda Richter led the way in the first half, scoring seven points. Neveah Irvin and Kinley Hoffman each add six in the opening two periods.
Granger’s offense finally found the range in the third quarter. The Lady Lions hit 42 percent from the field in the period and had their best scoring quarter of the night with 14 points. Sophomore Marissa Hall scored six in the third for Granger, while Montana Moore had five and Sofia Bernal added three.
Thrall’s offense continued to be productive in the third quarter. Kassi Jackson and Ashlyn Jarosek each had five to lead the Tigerettes to a 16-point period. Thrall took a 48-21 lead into the final quarter of play.
The final period saw the Tigerettes’ defense continue to swarm all over the court, causing multiple Granger turnovers that Thrall was able to convert into points.
Jarosek and Brynn Leschber each had four points in a balanced attack by the Tigerettes. In all, seven different players scored for Thrall and led the Tigerettes to an 18-3 scoring advantage over the final eight minutes.
Jarosek led the Tigerettes with 11 points, while Richter and Irvin each had nine.
Hoffman and Avery Ochoa contributed eight points each to the Thrall total.
For Granger, Mattie Wilkie, Moore, and Hall each had seven to pace the Lady Lions. Wilkie also added 14 rebounds.
The Tigerettes were on the road again Friday in Bartlett for their final regular-season road game.
They will close out the regular season with three straight home games beginning Tuesday when they host Holland. They finish the season hosting district-leading Hearne on Friday and Milano on February 7. Granger was scheduled to host Thorndale on Friday and will close out their season on the road at Bartlett on Tuesday and Holland Feb. 3.
