Tiger girls hope to get on track with extra support

RED OAK – The girls’ basketball team’s struggles continued last week as their losing streak climbed to nine after dropping games to Clarinda, Creston, and a heart-breaking 29-27 loss to Tri-Center.

Tuesday, Clarinda came out firing, outscoring the Tigers 26-7 at halftime. Red Oak shot only 21-percent from the field in the 42-20 loss.

Kaely Piller led the Tigers with six points, while Gabrielle French pulled down nine rebounds.

French also led the Tigers, scoring 13 against Creston in the 47-35 loss Friday.

On Saturday, the Tigers fought back from a seven-point deficit to pull within two with 17 seconds left.

The Tigers were called for a foul, followed by a Tri-Center player throwing an elbow in frustration, leading to a technical foul.

After the Trojan player missed her free throw, Red Oak missed both of their ensuing free throws but still retained possession.

“I told the girls to make sure to run the clock down to under eight seconds so that Tri-Center wouldn’t have a chance to score after we did,” Red Oak Girls’ Basketball Head Coach Shelley Becker said. “We wanted to look for a shot off of a drive to the basket, that would allow us a two-point shot and possibly free throws as well. Instead, at the 10-second mark we took a shot from behind the three-point line. We have to learn from these mistakes and keep battling.

Regardless of their slump, the Tigers are gearing up for their return home Thursday as they take on the Atlantic Trojans.

Atlantic is sitting in last place in the Hawkeye 10 with only one win on the season, but that isn’t the only reason for the buzz among the players and the high school staff.

Thursday’s game will also be a fundraiser for the Montgomery County Relay for Life in which the team will be sporting their pink uniforms along with other pink accessories.

In the girl-boy doubleheader, the Tigers will also be selling T-shirts and tickets for a variety of raffles during the games.

All proceeds from the fund-raisers will be going to cancer research and to the Relay for Life.