BASKETBALL: Lady ’Stangs go 2-3 at Karnes City Classic

The Nixon-Smiley Lady Mustangs went 2-3 in their five games in three days at the Karnes City Classic tournament last week, running their season record to 7-5.

“Overall, the tournament tested us and put us in some situations that we have not been in yet this season,” Lady Mustang Coach Jordan Estrada said. “It was a great experience for us as a team, and will help us tremendously moving forward. Thank you to everyone who came out to support!”

In the opening game on Thursday, Nixon-Smiley took on Skidmore-Tynan. The Lady Mustangs jumped out to a big lead, taking a 19-2 lead in the first period. Despite scoring just 18 points the rest of the game (six in each of the final three periods), Nixon-Smiley emerged victorious with a 37-35 win.

Mady Velasquez had 14 points to lead the Lady Mustangs, while Greenlee Houseton had nine and Abby Fox had six. Natalee Mendez and Criselle Stansel each had four points.

Their second game of the tourney saw Nixon-Smiley play Blanco, the team which knocked them out of the playoffs last season. A nailbiter, the game continued into overtime after regulation ended in a 43-43 tie, but the Lady Mustangs fell, 50-47, after one OT period.

Houseton had 16 points to lead Nixon-Smiley, while Velasquez and Fox each scored 12 points. Kendall Amaya had five points and Mendez had two for the Lady Mustangs.

The third contest of the tournament saw Nixon-Smiley return to winning form with a 40-28 victory over Goliad. The Lady Mustangs ended the first period with an 11-9 lead and a 10-4 second period made it 21-13 at the half. In the second half, they outscored Goliad, 19-15.

Velasquez had 13 points to lead Nixon-Smiley, while Houseton had six and Mendez and Madisyne Rice had five. Stansel had four, while Ariel Villaneuva had three and Fox and Deanna Amaya each had two.

The Lady Mustangs lost to McMullen, 42-31, in their fourth game of the tournament. Nixon-Smiley took a 10-5 lead in the first period and still held a 17-15 lead at the break. However, the Lady Mustangs were held to just 14 second-half points while McMullen County put up 27 in the final two periods for a come-from-behind win.

Velasquez and Fox each scored eight points, while Houseton had five. Rice scored four, Mendez had three, Kendall Amaya had two and Deanna Amaya had one.

The final game of the tournament was a rematch between Nixon-Smiley and a Yorktown squad they beat on the road in the first game of the season. This time around, the Lady Wildcats came out on top with a 40-38 win over the Lady Mustangs.

Velasquez had 12 to lead Nixon-Smiley, while Houston and Kendall Amaya each had 10. Mendez scored three and Fox had one.

The Lady Mustangs were scheduled to play at home against Kenedy on Tuesday, Dec. 7, and then at the Moulton Invitational Tournament Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 9-11.