Lady Tigers fall behind early against Tulare Western and bounced out of Division II playoffs

The Tigers fell to 16-10 overall. The Tigers fell behind early and had difficulty finding the basket as Tulare took a commanding 23-5 first-quarter lead. Lemoore found themselves trailing 46-12 at the half.

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Lemoore's Lady Tigers, fresh from a disappointing loss to Hanford in the West Yosemite League finale, will hit the road this Friday (Feb. 28) for a 7 p.m. game at Tulare Western High School. The Mustangs are 7-3 in the East Yosemite league and 19-6 overall. Leading the way for the Mustangs is talented senior Dashayla Johnson, who is averaging 25 points per game.

The Tigers lost to Hanford 69-26. The Bullpups again went undefeated in WYL play and appear bound for yet another Central Section championship game. Lemoore finished at 16-9 overall and 7-5 in league.

Golden West game

Kiesha Loftin may have just cemented her spot on the West Yosemite League’s All-League squad with her performance Tuesday night. The talented senior scored a career-high 35 points, including 18 second half points as the Tigers downed a surprisingly tough Golden West team 57-45 and improved to 7-4 in league play.

Loftin was superb in the final period. Ahead by just three at the end of the third, Loftin went on a tear, scoring the Tigers first nine points before Kody Steen broke her streak with a basket following an offensive rebound. By then the Tigers held a 46-35 lead. And Loftin wasn’t through. Moments after Steen’s basket, she hauled in an offensive rebound to score and followed that with another rebound and a bucket to give her team a 50-35 lead.

Loftin gave the Tigers a 52-35 advantage when she stepped in front of a Blazer pass and then scored. While she didn’t score the next basket, she did make the assist to Jazmine Taylor who promptly scored on a short jumper for a 54-37 lead.

Loftin had 17 in the first half including seven first quarter points as Lemoore struggled to 14-11 lead. The Tigers held a slim 25-21 lead at the half.

“Keisha has been our offensive leader this season,” said Tiger Coach Jennifer Anderson. “She had a really good game last Friday too, but she got hurt so I’m really glad she came back today ready to play. When we run a couple of defenses we play, she gets a ton of steals and she converts or starts making a lot of free throws we can get a lot done. I’m really happy for her.”

The Tigers complete their WYL season Thursday with a game at WYL champion Hanford. Lemoore will find out their seed in the upcoming Central Section playoffs by Saturday.

Destinee Garcia led the Trailblazers with 11 points. Golden West fell to 3-8 in the WYL.