Spoofhounds to take on Savages on road trip

Maryville girls basketball is nearing the end of its regular season with only two more games left until the Class 4 District 16 Tournament starting Feb. 28.

Maryville is looking to improve in the last two games of the season against two Midland Empire Conference opponents — Savannah and Chillicothe — as it shapes up the district bracket.

Coach Kelly Obley said practice is going to play a huge role these next couple of weeks as the Spoofhounds prepare to head into districts.

“This is the most exciting time of the year, and this is what we have been preparing for all season long,” Obley said. “The girls have had great practices where the energy has been good, and they have been very competitive with each other. Now they just get to go out and continue to do that in front of some fans.”

The Spoofhounds will play the Savages 7 p.m. Feb. 16 in Savannah, Missouri, and the Hornets 5 p.m. Feb. 23 inside Maryville High School. The ’Hounds have been able to get the win in both matchups this season against Savannah by an average of 18 points per game.

Obley said the players must continue to get better every single day in order to stay in the win column this time around against the Savages.

“We know that Savannah is a really well-coached team, and they have good players,” Obley said. “Everytime we play them, it is going to be a more difficult game than the one before, and, in this next game, offensively just moving the ball more and finding those shots that we need.”

Sophomore guard Jalea Price has played a significant role in Maryville’s success this season.

Price has been averaging 10.4 points per game in the last eight matchups, going 30-for-56 from the field (53.6%) in that span.

Price said the team is looking to hold itself accountable during the next matchup at Savannah.

“We are looking just to keep our composure, work the ball around really well and hold each other accountable, and I think if we do those things, we should do good,” Price said.

The ’Hounds have been able to hold the Savages to an average of 26 points in the teams’ two matchups, and they caused 13 turnovers and 20 deflections in their last bout. Maryville didn’t allow a single 3-pointer in its last outing against Savannah, and the Spoofhounds kept the Savages to a meager 21.1% from the field.

Price said she’s been waiting for this time of year.

“I am excited for districts,” Price said. “I’m excited to see how far we can go, and I think we can do pretty good if we all work well together.”