Cougars’ second-quarter attack proves to be too much for Pirates to handle in Lenzini title game

PALMYRA, Mo. — Addy Abell looked at the scoreboard, then her teammates.

“It was time for us to go,” said Abell, the Highland girls basketball team’s high-scoring junior guard.

With Abell serving as the ringleader, Highland hit Hannibal with a second-quarter blitzkrieg that paved the way for a 55-38 win Saturday night in the finals of the 82nd Tony Lenzini Tournament at Palmyra High School.

The 5-foot-7 Abell scored 16 of her game-high 26 points in the decisive second quarter when Highland (18-2) outpointed Hannibal 26-10 to take a 31-20 advantage at halftime. Hannibal (9-5) had led 10-5 after the first period.

The only question during the second half was not if Highland would win, but by how much. Highland milked the clock much of the final period, helping keep the score at a respectable margin.

Abell scored 51 points in her last two tournament games. She buried three 3-pointers in the second quarter against Hannibal and four for the game, plus reeling in a game-best nine rebounds from her point guard position.

“It always feels great to have your shot dropping,” Abell said. “We just have to keep playing like this, and build off this championship.”

Hannibal coach Shawn Gaines applauded Abell’s effort.

“That second quarter was definitely the key, and we just could not contain Abell,” Gaines said. “We’re just going to have to get back to work and continue to learn and grow.”

Count Highland coach Ashton Jaco as another of Abell’s admirers.

“Addy is playing with a ton of confidence right now,” Jaco said. “She’s hitting her shots and also making her teammates better.”

Sophomores Keera Rothweiler (11) and Josie Murphy (11) seconded Abell in the scorebook. Rothweiler and Murphy also combined for 14 additional Highland rebounds as the Cougars punished Hannibal on the boards 39-24.

Highland’s defense was also noteworthy. The Cougars surrendered just 83 combined points in the tournament. 

Highland’s championship was its first in the tournament since 2012 and sixth overall. The Cougars had previously won one crown in the 1980s (1984) and three in the 1970s (1971-73).

“This tournament was an opportunity for us to play three games in a week, which is what we may have to do in the (postseason),” said Jaco, whose team has won seven in a row.

Hannibal junior guard Malia Stolte finished off a superb week, scoring 22 points. Stolte averaged 20.7 points per game in the tournament. Lyla Dorsey, a 5-foot-11 freshman, led Hannibal with eight rebounds.

Zaria Reese, who scored 12 points and collected a school-record 18 rebounds in Hannibal’s semifinal win over Palmyra, was limited to eight points and four first-quarter rebounds.