Making the all-tournament team at the Paden City Lady Wildcat Christmas Classic tournament for Tyler Consolidated were seniors Sydney Reed and Sophie Kinnard.

The Lady Knight varsity basketball team of Tyler Consolidated has faced some pretty tough competition here at the very beginning of the season, seeing some of the best athletes the local area has to offer. Of the last four outings, the Knights have come away the winner in two.

The Silver Ladies began their season on Dec. 3 at home against Williamstown, handing the Yellow Jackets the 83-61 loss.

In an exciting game, the two teams played neck and neck in the first half, with the Knights in the lead at the buzzer, 39-34. In the third period, Consolidated made their move and took control in the third period, outscoring their opponents by 10, and eventually taking the win.

“We played a good game in this one,” said Knight head coach Matt Kinnard. “The girls were up and ready for it and their play on the floor showed it.”

On Dec. 5 the Lady Knights were at home again, this time facing off with rival St. Marys. The Blue Devils brought their hard hitting, quick shooting game to Tyler County, eventually leaving with the 67-58 win.

Though the Lady Devils led by points in every period, the Silver gave them all they wanted, dogging every step and attempts at shots.

“We went cold in the second quarter against St. Marys,” coach Kinnard said. “And we allowed them too many trips to the foul line. Heck, in the second half they practically lived at the free throw line.”

Senior Sydney Reed led the way in the scoring department for the Silver with 27 big ones. She also had four rebounds, one assist, and two steals. Fellow senior, Sophie Kinnard, totaled 15 points, brought down 17 boards, had three assists, four steals, and five blocks; Vanessa Templeton added six markers, four rebounds; Katelyn Gogan scored four points, had two rebounds, two assists, and four steals; Ariel Fish scored three points, had three rebounds, one assist, and a steal; Hillary Casteel added two points, had seven rebounds, one assist, and four steals; Sydney Yoho brought down one rebound; Hannah Casteel, one rebound; Breanna Yeater, one rebound.

Playing in the Lady Wildcat Christmas Classic Tournament in Paden City on Dec. 6 and 7, Tyler Consolidated met up with a stronger Wood County Christian team than expected, resulting in their second loss of the season, 61-57.

“Wood County Christian was definitely a surprise,” said coach Kinnard. “They were a good team and their point guards beat us up in the second half. It was a good game, but our shooting percentage wasn’t as good as it should have been.”

The Lady Wildcats were ahead 11-10 at the end of the first of the best match-up of the tournament with the Silver leading by the slight margin. In the second period the Knights continued their scoring splurge, adding 17 to their side of the score board while holding Wood County to only eight.

The third quarter saw the WC ‘Cats come alive in both the shooting department, outscoring the Knights 16-8, bringing the opposition within passing distance of the Silver, 36-34.

The fourth quarter told the story of the game though as the Wood County team not only caught up with the Knights, but surpassed them in the scoring department to take the 61-57 win.

Seniors Reed and Kinnard once again led the Silver Ladies in all statistics with Reed topping the scoring chart at 27. She also had six rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Kinnard offered up 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, and three blocks. Yoho totaled six points and had two rebounds; Templeton, four points, four rebounds; Madison West chipped in two points and had two assists; Kylie Martin was credited with a steal; Fish had two rebounds and three assists; and Yeater, three rebounds.

“Sydney Reed has had a couple of excellent games,” the coach said. “She’s been our top scorer in every game. Now we need everybody else to contribute like that.”

The loss sent the Lady Knights to the consolation round in the tournament, going up again the Lumber Jills of Valley on Dec. 7. In a run-away game, the Silver Ladies easily took the win 80-43 for third place overall in the tournament.

Reed was the hot handed shooter once again for Consolidated, scoring 28 points for the team. She also brought down five boards, had five rebounds, five assists, and stole the ball five times. Kinnard added 18 points, brought down nine boards, had five assists, two steals, and two blocks; Hillary Casteel scored 11 points, had nine rebounds and two steals.

Fish scored nine points, had seven rebounds, one assist, four steals; West, four points, one assist, one steal; Martin, three points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals; Yoho, three points, four rebounds, one steal; Yeater, three points, seven rebounds, one assist, one steal; Templeton, one point, four rebounds, one assist and one steal; and Hannah Casteel was credited with a nice block.

“Hillary Casteel had an excellent game,” the coach said.

“She played some of the best basketball she has ever played.”

Kinnard said he has been pretty well pleased with the play of the team thus far this year, even though a few things still need work.

“The biggest things in our two losses so far is the fact that we tend to let down on our D in the second half and we haven’t taken nearly enough shots. We fix these two things and we’re on our way.”

“We need to continue to focus on the big picture, our team and team play. We need to communicate better on offense.”

“We make these adjustments and we get better.”

The Lady Knights played host to Parkersburg Catholic on Tuesday and on Dec. 12 the Lady Cadets of Linsly will play at Tyler Consolidated.

Junior varsity games will begin at 6 p.m. with varsity match-ups scheduled immediately after.