MOKANE - The state-ranked New Bloomfield Lady Wildcats weathered shooting difficulties and rallied by outscoring the South Callaway Lady Bulldogs 21-12 in the fourth quarter of Tuesday night's 50-45 Show-Me Conference triumph.
New Bloomfield - ranked No. 9 in Class 2 - jumped out to a 15-4 lead after one quarter, but South Callaway countered by outscoring the Lady Wildcats 14-5 in the second quarter to draw within 20-18 at halftime. The Lady Bulldogs followed up by outscoring New Bloomfield 15-9 in the third quarter to take a 33-29 advantage.
The Lady Wildcats then rediscovered their shooting touch in time to spark their comeback over the last 8 minutes, collecting their fourth straight win.
"It's a big rivalry game, so you never know what's going to happen," New Bloomfield head coach Brett Craighead said. "We had two poor shooting quarters, but we turned it around in the fourth quarter.
"We came up with some steals out of our (defensive) pressure and made a couple of layups, and we attacked the basket. That got us going."
Freshman guard Madi Craighead directed the Lady Wildcats (18-3, 5-1 SMC) with 14 points. Senior forward Ashley Kelley chipped in with 11 points.
Freshman guard Adrian Mann topped South Callaway (11-8, 6-2) - which has lost three in a row - with a game-high 20 points. Sophomore guard Nicole Horstman was next with 11 points.
New Bloomfield (6-2) bowed in the junior varsity game 27-26. Sophomore guard Baylee Garrett scored a team-high eight points.
The Lady Wildcats travel to Tuscumbia - ranked No. 4 in Class 1 - for an SMC showdown at 6 tonight.
"We have to be able to break their pressure and finish off with a basket," Brett Craighead said. "They try to really speed you up and get into a track meet."
South Callaway plays at Belle at 6 tonight.