Mason, Perrier lead Ladycats in tournament

Kayla Mason

With another strong tournament performance, the Whitehouse Ladycats amassed an 11-3 record heading into Tuesday's districtopening contest with Marshall.

After a championship at Wills Point a week earlier, the Ladycats took second place in the Brownsboro Tournament this past week.

Despite a loss to Cleburne in the title game, head coach Willie Hill was pleased with his team's performance and their progress heading into conference play.

"This was a great tourney for us and the ladies played hard all week long. I am proud of our outcome," said Hill. "With the hot shooting of senior Kayla Mason and sophomore Caroline Perrier, the opposing teams were kept on edge all tourney long. Great job to all the Ladycats."

Mason averaged 16.8 points per game for Whitehouse, followed closely by Perrier's 15.2 ppg.

Whitehouse opened the tournament with a big win over Hawkins, 64-34, and set the stage for a key to the team's success with a 24-3 first quarter advantage. Through five games, the Ladycats outscored their opponents 69-31 in the first quarter, with only Cleburne finding the early advantage in the title game.

Caroline Perrier

Mason led her teammates with 21 points, followed by Perrier with 17, Alicia Cordova and Shelly Williams 8 each, Becca Hanna 5, Alexa Fisher 4 and Haylee Aldredge 3.

Cordova added 11 rebounds, followed by Regan Hawkins with 7 and Mason with 6.

Mason and Cordova also added 6 steals each.

Van was the Ladycats' second victim, falling 54-31. Mason and Perrier both sank two treys to lead Whitehouse scoring with 17 and 15 points respectively.

Leading 27-16 at half, Whitehouse saw a brief lapse in the third but finished strong with a 21-point fourth quarter.

Other top scorers were Cordova with 8, Aldredge 7, Williams 3 and Fisher and Hawkins with 2 each.

Cordova added 11 boards and 5 steals, followed by Mason with 7 boards and 6 steals, Hawkins with 7 boards and Williams with 3 steals.

The Ladycats faced a stiff challenge from Liberty Eylau in the quarterfinals. The teams were tied at halftime, 25-all, and Whitehouse used a big third quarter to gain a seven-point margin before securing the win, 58-47.

Mason scored her highest numbers of the tournament, hitting five of eight three-point shots for 27 points. Perrier also had a big shooting game, going four of nine from threepoint range for 14 points.

Cordova continued to pound the boards, pulling down 16 (six offensive and 10 defensive). Mason and Hawkins had 7 each, followed by Williams with 4 and Perrier 3.

Mason and Cordova also had 4 steals each.

Whitehouse's semifinal opponent was John Tyler. After a one-sided first quarter (9-1 in the Ladycats' favor) the teams were neck and neck with a one-point difference in the second and third quarters and two points in the fourth.

Perrier led the Ladycats with 21 points, hitting five treys, followed by Mason with 8 and Cordova with 6.

Cordova had 12 rebounds, Mason 7, Hawkins 6, Williams 5 and Perrier 2.

Cleburn broke the Ladycats' string of first-quarter dominations en route to sealing the title, 45-36.

"Both teams had a hard semifinal game and the team that took advantage of breaks would win this game," said Hill. The game was closer than the score indicates, as Whitehouse was forced to foul in the final seconds.

Cordova led her team with 12 points, 9 rebounds and 2 steals. Mason added 11 points, 6 boards and 3 steals, followed by Perrier with 9 points and 2 boards.

Hawkins and Williams both had 2 points and 3 rebounds.

With a win over Robert E. Lee heading into the tournament, 49-37, Hill was pleased with his team's efforts heading into district.

"Jumping on top in the first quarter has been good for us, making teams play catch-up. Also, knocking down baskets at key times when they are trying to make a run and turning turnovers into points has been a plus for us," he said. "Our goal going into the tournament and to the end of our season is to take care of the ball, compete and play hard-nose defense. If we do all these things, winning will take care of itself."

Shelly Williams led the balanced Ladycat scoring effort with 13 points against Robert E. Lee. Perrier chipped in 9, followed by Mason and Cordova with 8 each, Hawkins with 5 and Fisher, Hanna and Aldredge with 2 each.

Perrier and Mason had 5 steals each, and Cordova added 3 steals and 6 boards.