TIPTON — Having their originally scheduled season opener moved to February, Jason Kampeter’s Vienna Lady Eagles opened their season last week during the 82nd Annual Tipton Girls Basketball Tournament along Highway 50 in Moniteau County.

Last Monday, Vienna faced a tall task opening the tournament against the top-seed and host Lady Cardinals.

Thanks to a pair of Marsie Messersmith free throws, Vienna avoided a first-half shutout against Tipton before falling 76-16 to the Lady Cardinals.

Messersmith led the Lady Eagles with nine points against Tipton followed by two each from Jaelee Stricklan, Kadence George and Terra Huffman.

Olivia Hagan also added a free throw for one point in the fourth quarter.

Tipton went on to defeat Capital City in the semifinals before besting Chamois in the championship game.

Last Wednesday in the consolation semifinals, Kampeter’s Lady Eagles were matched up with New Bloomfield’s Lady Wildcats.

Down by double digits most of the game, Vienna went on a 12-4 run in the fourth quarter before foul trouble caught up with them.

Trailing 34-31 with 2:50 left, Vienna saw New Bloomfield close the game on a 7-1 run handing them a 41-32 loss.

Drawing first blood, George gave Vienna an early 2-0 lead at the 7:28 mark of the opening quarter.

With a quick answer, the Lady Wildcats ended the first quarter on an 8-2 run to take an 8-4 lead after eight minutes.

Seeing New Bloomfield start the second quarter on a 9-0 run, Vienna stopped the run on a Huffman basket at the 6:08 mark of the quarter.

Edging the Lady Wildcats 5-3 the rest of the quarter, Vienna went into halftime trailing New Bloomfield 20-11.

Messersmith paced the Lady Eagles with four first-half points.

Trailing 28-13 with 4:58 for the third quarter, a Messersmith free throw along with five points from George helped the Lady Eagles go into the fourth quarter trailing New Bloomfield 30-19.

Messersmith caught fire starting the fourth quarter scoring the first seven points of the period trimming Vienna’s deficit to four points, 30-26.

Able to get withing three at 34-31, Vienna could not get any closer before falling to New Bloomfield.

Messersmith led Vienna with 16 points and four steals against the Lady Wildcats while George had 10 points, seven rebounds and five steals.

Feeler also pulled down 14 rebounds against New Bloomfield.

Sent to the seventh-place game against Smithton, Vienna outscored the Lady Tigers 35-26 in the second half before posting their first win of the season 58-48.

George posted an impressive stat line of 31 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and five steals.

Messersmith added 21 points and four steals. Feeler netted a double double of 12 steals, 11 rebounds and four points.