The Eagle/Angel CarpenterDayville/Monument Tiger Danielle Rhoda scores, breaking the final tie of the game against the Prairie City Panthers. The Tigers went on to win the game, 41-37.

JOHN DAY — The Dayville/Monument Lady Tigers clawed their way to a 41-37 victory over the Prairie City Lady Panthers Thursday at the 1A-8 High Desert League Tournament held at Grant Union.

The Tigers entered the tournament seeded fourth and the Panthers were fifth seed.

Scores were fairly even in the first half, when the Tigers kicked things into high gear.

The first quarter had the Tigers ahead 7-6, then they trailed 16-22 in the second quarter.

“I think going into the second half, they picked up their intensity, and won one quarter at a time, instead of a lot at once,” said Tiger head coach Taylor Schmadeka. “Teamwork was a lot better in the second half. They moved the ball a lot and communicated on defense a lot better.”

Tiger players Kendall Hettinga and Kristina Humphreys helped the team with two three-pointers in the third, along with Skylar Powell and Danielle Rhoda adding points to the scoreboard, and the teams were tied, 29-29.

Scoring went back and fourth in the final period, and the game was tied 37-37 with a minute and a half left.

Rhoda scored her last two of six points in the quarter off a steal.

Powell added one of two at the free-throw line, putting the Tigers up by three.

Schmadeka said it was “pure hustle from the girls” that kept the ball in their hands, then Hettinga added another point at the line to end the game.

Panther head coach Penny Black said her team kept good composure through the first half.

A couple key players were lost when they fouled out near the end.

Panther high point-scorer was Brianna Zweygardt with 20 points (unofficial stats) in the game.

The Lady Panthers will face either Jordan Valley or Harper/Huntington at 8 a.m. Friday.

The Lady Tigers go up against Crane at 7 p.m. Friday night.