Candiace McIntosh was too much for the West Oktibbeha Lady Timberwolves as the senior center scored a career-high 41 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to help the Lady Wildcats pick up a crucial 56-43 Region 4-1A win .
Houlka (9-13, 3-1) jumped out to a 20-9 lead in the first quarter, but the scoring dropped off in the second quarter as both teams posted 7 points each as the Lady Wildcats took a 27-16 lead into the half. West Oktibbeha (14-7, 3-2) trimmed into the lead by outscoring the Houlka 11-9 in the third quarter, but the Lady Wildcats countered in the fourth to outscore the Lady Wolves 20-16 to pick up the 56-43 win.
Ranesha Townsend scored 8, Macey Heair 6, and Sara Zachary added 1 point to McIntosh’s double-double performance.
Houlka stays atop of the Region 4-1A rankings with the win. A win on Tuesday over the Tremont Lady Eagles (3-10, 1-3) would lock the Lady Cats in as the number one seed heading into next week’s region tournament.
West Oktibbeha 63 Houlka 62 (B)
The Wildcats dropped a 63-62 heartbreaker to the West Oktibbeha Timberwolves on Tuesday night.
Houlka (8-16, 2-2) battled their way out to a 17-11 lead in the first quarter. West Oktibbeha (11-12, 4-1) fought back in the second quarter to trim the Cats’ six-point edge to 37-33 at the break. The Wolves clawed their way back even by out scoring Houlka 16-12 in the third quarter to head into the final frame tied 49-49. West Oktibbeha outscored the Cats 14-13 in the fourth quarter to sneak away with the 63-62 thriller.
Kevin Moore scored a game-high 19 points, Jarvis Pulliam had 16, Corey Pulliam and Brandon Isabell had 6 each while Dante Turner, John Michael Houston, Lorenzo Jones, and Garrett Moore all score 4 points apiece for Houlka.
Kareem Hughes paced West Oktibbeha with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
A win on over Tremont Eagles (2-14, 0-4) on Tuesday would lock the Cats into the number four seed in next week’s region tournament.
