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For both teams, the importance was being there.
Houston Madison defeated Consolidated 54-42 in the tournament championship Saturday afternoon in Tiger Gym. The sting of the loss was eased by the fact that the Lady Tigers won three games to reach the title game of the holiday tourney for the first time.
"Our girls placed in a tournament that we have never placed in, and that's a great accomplishment," Consol coach Nelda Gilbert said. "They didn't feel that way after the loss, but I told them they did something special."
Bryan also finished the invitational with a 3-1 mark. The Lady Vikings recovered from an opening loss to take the consolation championship with a 64-44 victory over Corpus Christi Calallen on Saturday afternoon.
"I thought we were real sluggish and sloppy in our first game," Bryan coach Beth Jesurun said. "I've been very pleased with our intensity since then. Everybody contributed today, and that's what we have to get to win."
Almost every player in the tourney's last three games showed the fatigue of playing four games in three days, but Madison's girls looked fresh and fast, particularly point guard Porsche Landry. The Marlins took control with a 13-5 edge in the second quarter, and they maintained a safe lead the rest of the way.
Consol (15-6) made just one of six shots in the second period, a runner by Consolo Palmer. The Lady Tigers compounded their woes by missing five of eight free throws.
"We hit the wall a little bit," Gilbert said. "Everybody's tired at the end of a tournament, but when you have a chance at a championship you have to focus even more."
The speed of Landry and the outside shooting of Raquel Jones would have been hard to contain with fresh legs. Landry was an easy choice as tournament MVP after a dazzling performance that included 20 points and much more, while Jones made three 3-pointers on her way to 16 points.
After Madison took the lead, the Marlins were able to spread out on offense and let Landry zip through the Consol defense for fancy floaters in the lane or passes that set up easy baskets.
Consol senior forward Danyetta Williams probably would have been the MVP had the Lady Tigers won. Williams, who scored seven points in the final, gave the home team a scoring option with defenses swarming around 6-foot-4 center Karla Gilbert.
"Danyetta had an awesome tournament," coach Gilbert said. "She doesn't know how good she can be."
Sarah Daily was the top scorer for Consol with 14 points. Karla Gilbert added 10 points and 14 rebounds.
In the consolation final, Bryan had seven players score six points or more. Depth paid off when the Lady Vikings took command of a close game with a 21-7 edge in the third quarter.
Micah Marshall led the Lady Vikes with 11 points. Ashley Maxwell scored 10 and Gia Ayers added nine.
Bryan's three-game winning streak represents a nice turnaround after the Lady Vikes lost a District 13-5A game at Harker Heights and then played poorly in their tournament opener.
"I feel like we're right back where we were before the break," Jesurun said. "We've got to continue to work at getting better, but it helps to finish the tournament well."
• Larry Bowen's e-mail address is larry.bowen@theeagle.com.
Madison 54, Consol 42
(Numbers indicate field goals, free throws made-attempted, fouls and points)
MADISON (20-3) -- Tarneshia Burns 1 0-0 4 3; Raquel Jones 6 1-2 0 16; Porsche Landry 8 4-9 1 20; Porsche Moore 0 0-0 2 0; Andrenia McGowen 2 0-0 1 4; Megan Williams 1 0-0 5 2; Latarsha McNeil 1 0-1 2 2; Kirbi Clark 1 0-0 3 2; Audrey Cooks 1 3-4 2 5. Totals: 21 8-16 20 54.
CONSOL (15-6) -- Kiera Scott 0 0-0 1 0; Kara Mason 0 0-1 0 0; Consolo Palmer 4 0-2 5 8; Shreeka Hardeman 0 0-0 3 0; Carriesa Porch 0 0-0 1 0; Sarah Daily 4 6-10 1 14; Karla Gilbert 3 4-9 1 10; Danyetta Williams 1 5-6 2 7. Totals: 12 15-28 14 42.
Madison 10 13 16 15 -- 54
Consol 10 5 10 17 -- 42
Bryan 64, Calallen 44
(Numbers indicate field goals, free throws made-attempted, fouls and points)
BRYAN (14-9) -- Sierra Flowers 0 0-0 1 0; Gia Ayers 4 1-2 2 9; Micah Marshall 5 1-2 0 11; Amanda Lawson 3 0-2 2 6; Lakendra Clemons 2 1-2 2 5; Ashley Maxwell 5 0-0 3 10; Romika Bircher 3 0-0 0 6; Carlette Wyatt 0 1-4 0 1; Elizabeth Marrero 3 0-0 2 6; Carlisha Wyatt 3 0-0 2 6. Totals: 29 6-18 17 54.
CALALLEN -- Stephanie Lewis 2 2-4 0 6; Dina Rodriguez 1 1-2 2 4; Amanda Haven 4 5-6 2 15; Valerie Perez 4 2-3 1 11; Demi Holloday 3 0-0 1 6. Totals: 14 10-15 6 44.
Calallen 10 17 7 8 -- 44
Bryan 20 11 21 12 -- 64
