The Marshall County Tigerettes (11-4, 0-1 District 8-3A) faced the Lady ‘Cats of Tullahoma (10-7, 1-0 District 8-3A) in a district contest Friday on Steely Court at Dottie Kelso Memorial Gymnasium.

The Tigerettes, coming off a loss to Lincoln County in the district opener, couldn’t match up with the talented Lady ‘Cats in a 55-19 loss.

MCHS’s Meshanna Ridley broke the scoring ioce with a steal and breakaway basket and the Tigerettes led 2-0.

But Tullahoma’s Alivia Bowen drained a three-pointer as the Lady ‘Cats then employed a three-quarter court press that the Tigerettes found difficult to navigate and turnovers resulted.

McLayne Bowen sank one of two Tullahoma free throws, Nyah Gibbs converted an old-fashioned three-pointer (basket and a free throw), and Bowen struck again with a three-pointer to make the score, 12-2, as MCHS called a time out.

Tigerette Meshanna Ridley responded from the time out with a long three-pointer, but Tullahoma responded with a bucket by Lily Melton and two free throws by Eleanor Fults before Demiyah Blackman sank two MCHS free throws.

Gibbs for Tullahoma made a basket down low and the quarter ticked off with the Lady ‘Cats leading 18-7.

The second quarter was a continuation of the first with the press gaining dividends.

Ridley and Blackman scored baskets for MCHS in the quarter, but Tullahoma increased their lead to 31-11 at halftime.

Third quarter action saw three Lady ‘Cats use the free-throw line with Melton sinking eight of ten as a scoring tool converting 10 of 12 to go with three-pointers by Carr and Bowen.

The Tigerettes could only rely on a basket by Ridley and two free-throws from Blackman as at the end of the third quarter Tullahoma led 45-15.

MCHS couldn’t gain traction in the fourth quarter against a running clock and liberal substitutions by Tullahoma as Ridley sank a free-throw and Kayla Keiler bombed a three-pointer.

Fults for Tullahoma made two three-pointers in the quarter and the Lady ‘Cats rolled in a 55-19 victory to improve to 2-0 in District 8 – 3A.

“Really tough game, it is a tough matchup for us, really good team,” Tigerette coach David Steely said. “We can play better, we are going to continue to try and get better, keep the right mentality and focus on getting better.”

The Tigerettes entertain non-district Lighthouse Christian of Antioch on Saturday night, then travel to Spring Hill for another District 8-3A matchup on Tuesday night.

Tullahoma    18 13 14 10 - 55

MCHS          7  4  4  4 - 19

Tullahoma (55): Nyah Gibbs 11, Lily Melton 10, Alivia Melton 9, McLayne Bobo 7, Eleanor Fults 8, Morgan Carr 8, Emilee Shuran 2.

3-Point Goals (7) Bobo 3, Fults 2, Carr 2.

Free Throws (16-21): Melton 6-for-8, Bobo 3-for-4, Gibbs 3-for-3, Fults 2-for-2, Carr 2-for-2, Bowen 0-for-2.

MCHS (19): Meshanna Ridley 7, Demiyah Blackman 6, Maggie Steely 3, Kayla Keiler 3.

3-Point Goals (2): Steely, Keiler.

Free Throws (5-6): Blackman 4-for-4, M. Ridley 1-for-2.

Halftime: Tullahoma 31, MCHS 11.