Kicking off 2022 at the Battle In Bourbon with mixed results, Evin Farris’ Belle Lady Tigers opened Gasconade Valley Conference (GVC) girls basketball action with a pair of road games last week.

Facing Steelville’s Lady Cardinals last Monday, Belle dropped the varsity contest 65-26 before bouncing back to win a two-quarter junior varsity game 21-7.

Last Thursday, Belle ventured back into Crawford County this time to take on Cuba’s Lady Wildcats.

Falling behind 20-6 after one quarter, BHS was not able to get any closer before falling 71-31 leaving them still searching for their first win inside the GVC this season.

Hitting a 3-pointer in the first three quarters, Lauren Prigge led Belle with a team-high nine points.

Victoria Busch added a pair of 3-pointers helping her finish right behind Prigge with eight points.

Nevaeh Kinsey scored five of her seven points in the second quarter for Farris’ Lady Tigers.

Hali Naber scored three of her five points from the free-throw line while McKenna Loughridge rounded out the scoring for Belle against Cuba with a pair of second-quarter free throws for two points.

Diamond Payne paced Cuba with a game-high 31 points.

Belle used last night’s (Tuesday) home game at Bland Middle School (BMS) against Viburnum as the consolation championship game from the Battle in Bourbon Tournament since the originally scheduled game from last Wednesday was postponed due to sickness within the Lady Tiger squad.

BHS will also play one more home game this week at Bland due to the Belle Boys Basketball Tournament going on tomorrow (Thursday) against Bourbon’s Lady Warhawks at 5:30 p.m.

Belle will be going for their second win over the Lady Warhawks in the span of a few weeks after defeating them 54-23 in the consolation semifinals during their home tournament back on Saturday, Jan. 8.