MOBERLY, Mo. — The Lady Raiders keep getting the job done defensively. They haven't allowed 70 points in a game since their last loss on Nov. 30, and the opposition has had no answer. Sunday, that trend continued as Three Rivers scored the first eight points and got out to a 12-2 start against Moberly area in a game that was originally scheduled for Saturday but moved back a day because of heavy snow. Nonetheless, the Lady Raiders dominated Moberly Area in a 69-47 wireto-wire win, handing them their eighth victory in a row. "We jumped out to the lead… and never looked back," Three Rivers coach Jeff Walk said. "We ran the floor on offense and just forced them into 24 turnovers and played well, had 15 steals and controlled the boards. It was just an overall good effort." Dexter alum Hannah Thurmon set the tone early on the defensive end, swatting a shot on one of the game's opening possessions on her way to three for the game. It was her third game in a row with three or more blocked shots and her eighth game this season with multiple rejections. Three Rivers (15-3, 3-0 Region XVI) allowed nothing easy for Moberly Area (8-10, 0-1 Region XVI), holding the hosts to under 36 percent from the floor and 25 percent from 3-point range. Once they forced the Lady Greyhounds into contested looks, finishing the job defensively wasn't a problem for the Lady Raiders, who held a plus-17 margin on the glass despite Moberly Area possessing a bit of a height advantage. "Once they figured out they were going to have to guard the rest of us we kind of controlled the defensive glass and the offensive glass. Katelyn (South) slipped in there and got one offensive rebound when we were five out. The kids were just figuring out what they need to do to make sure we get the W." Offensively, South led the way for the Lady Raiders with one of her most complete games of the season. She led all scorers with 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds, tying her season high. Deanay Watson continued her strong season. She scored 18 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds in 21 minutes for her third straight game in double figures. Watson scored a layup for the first points of the game to spark the Lady Raiders' 12-2 start. "They started off in a triangle-and-two (defense) on Jordan (Little) and Hailee (Erickson), and I told the rest of them, 'They don't think the rest of you can score,' so we had some kids step up tonight and make shots and play well." Three Rivers led almost every statistical category while holding Moberly Area to one double figure scorer. Kaysie Newson scored 11, but the defense held her to a 4-of-15 shooting clip while keeping the Lady Greyhounds almost 20 points below their season average. "We've been able to mix up our presses and speed people up, you know, getting them offbalance on their offensive attack. The other thing so far is we've been able to put offensive pressure on people because we've got two or three kids that can just flat outrun them to the other end when they go from offense to defense in transition," Walk said. The Lady Raiders dominated almost every statistical category. They held a 29-7 advantage in points off turnovers. Despite giving up some height inside, Three Rivers out-scored Moberly 42-22 in the paint and doubled up the hosts 12-6 in second-chance points. After playing four games in eight days, the Lady Raiders will get six days off as they prepare to host Crowder at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19. 

Nate Fields - Daily American Republic