Tigers comeback comes up short in Wellman

Tipton’s Laken Hermiston, left, and Rachel Bierman (24) box out and opposing player during a Tipton free throw attempt in the second half of Tipton’s 54-47 loss at Mid-Prairie.  Photo by Nick Moffitt, Kalona News.

WELLMAN — Tipton struggled offensively in Wellman last Tuesday in their game at Mid-Prairie. Tipton shot just 34-percent from the floor in the game in a seven-point, 54-47 loss. Tipton lost to Mid-Prairie by six points, 52-46 in the second game of the season at home. The Tigers have lost three of their last four games and fell to 6-7 overall with the loss.

Tipton trailed 11-10 after the first quarter. Jamie Kofron had all five of her points in the opening quarter for the Tigers. Mid-Prairie took control of the game with a 16-7 second quarter run to take a 27-17 halftime lead. Tipton fell behind by eight more points after three quarters after a 14-6 Golden Hawk run in the third quarter. The Golden Hawks outscored Tipton 30-13 in the middle two quarters.

Tipton trailed 41-23 after three quarters. The Tigers started a fourth-quarter rally with a Kamryn Chapman bucket 15 seconds into the final quarter to put the score at 41-25. Mid-Prairie pushed their lead to 18, before Tipton rallied. Amanda Smith had a steal and coast-to-coast layup to cut the lead to 16. With 5:23 left in the game, two Emily Hermsen free throws set the score at 47-31. The points were Hermsen’s first of the game. Amanda Smith made 1-of-2 free throws to set the score at 47-32. On the ensuing MP inbounds play, Tipton stole the ball and Rachel Bierman made a three-pointer and was fouled. Bierman made the free throw for a four-point play while cutting the Golden Hawk lead to 47-36 with 4:38 left in the game. The Tigers were on a 7-0 run.

A Hermsen drive in the lane and resulting lay-up cut the Golden Hawk lead to ten points, 48-38 with 4:33 left in the game. Tipton had back-to-back offensive possessions to cut the lead to less than ten points, but could not take advantage. With 2:48 left in the game, Tipton trailed 49-38 and Emily Hermsen was free in the lane and took a shot that at the time looked like was blocked by a Mid-Prairie player out of bounds. The referees conferred and gave the ball to Mid-PRairie. The Golden Hawks ran some clock, but a steal and Rachel Bierman lay-up cut the Mid-Prairie lead to single digits, 49-40 with 2:14 left in the game. After a Mid-Prairie turnover, Tipton scored again. WIth 1:52 left to play, Emily Hermsen drilled a three-pointer to cut the Golden Hawk lead to six, 49-43. Tipton tried to extend the game but could get no closer than six points.

Rachel Bierman led Tipton in scoring with 18 points and also had 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Bierman has led Tipton in scoring for three straight ball games. Amanda Smith had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds and Emily Hermsen chipped in nine points. Tipton was 11-for-14 from the free throw line and had 30 rebounds as a team. Kamryn Chapman had 4 rebounds, 4 points, and two blocked shots and Alex Hoffman, Hermsen, Laken Hermiston and Jamie Kofron each had two rebounds. Tipton got all 47 points from their starting five players.

Mid-Prairie was led by three players in double digits. Maddie Nonnemann with 16 while Myah Lugar and Shae Becker each had 11 points for the Golden Hawks.

Tipton’s game at Cascade last Friday was postponed due to a snowstorm late last weekend. The game will be made up on Monday, January 28. Tipton will be on the road this week with a game at West Liberty on Friday, at Cascade Monday and then at Durant next Tuesday. Tipton will end the regular season with four straight home games, starting next Thursday, January 31 against Calamus-Wheatland.

Mid-Prairie 54, Tipton 47

Tuesday, January 15

At Wellman

TIP 10 7 6 24 47

MP 11 16 14 13 54

TIPTON (47): Emily Hermsen (g) 2-9 4-4 9, Rachel Bierman (g) 6-14 4-4 18, Amanda Smith (f) 4-10 2-5 11, Kamryn Chapman (f) 2-2 0-0 4, Jamie Kofron (f) 2-7 1-1 5, Alex Hoffman 0-4 0-0 0, Hailey Stewart 0-0 0-0 0, Madison Conrad 0-0 0-0 0, Liz Bierman 0-0 0-0 0, Laken Hermiston 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 16-47 11-14 47.

M-P (47): Ella Cadena 1-1 1-1 3, Kessa Jones 0-1 5-8 5, Caitlyn Riggan 1-3 2-5 4, Shae Becker 4-8 2-6 11, Myah Lugar 4-9 0-0 11, Maddie Nonnemann 7-11 2-2 16, Colby Rourke 2-4 0-0 4. Totals: 19-37 12-22 54.

3-Pt. FG: Tipton 4-11 (Bierman 2-4, Hermsen 1-5, Smith 1-1, Hoffman 0-1), MP 4-10 (Lugar 3-7, Becker 1-2, Riggan 0-1). Rebounds: Tipton 30 (Smith 10, Bierman 7, Chapman 4, Hoffman 2, Hermsen 2, Hermiston 2, Kofron 2, Conrad 1), MP 21 (Becker 5, Lugar 5, Jones 4, Nonnemann 4). Assists: Tipton 8 (Hoffman 3, Hermsen 3, Bierman 1, Chapman 1), Tipton 14 (Becker 8). Steals: Tipton 11 (Bierman 3, Smith 2, Hermsen 2, Hoffman 2, Chapman 1, Kofron 1), MP 9 (Jones 5). Blocked Shots: Tipton 5 (Chapman 2, Bierman 2, Smith 1), MP 4 (Lugar 2). Total Fouls: Tipton 18, MP 14. Fouled Out: Tipton Hoffman, MP none.