Just four days after missing the Pink Out game against Montgomery County due to influenza, Hallie Guzy bounced back on Dec. 20 to turn in her best performance of the season during a home game against Liberty Christian Academy.

The Wellsville-Middletown sophomore poured in 29 points to lift her team to a 55-47 win over the Eagles at the W-M gymnasium in its final game before the eight-day holiday break. The Tigers improved to 4-4.

Also, the W-M boys completed the sweep after beating Liberty Christian 38-27. They also improved to 4-4 and will return to action on Jan. 2 with a home game against Calvary Lutheran.

Guzy was the only W-M player in double figures in the girls contest. She scored 16 of her points in the second half to help the Tigers pull off a come-from-behind victory over LCA, which is located in Wright City. Guzy hit two 3-pointers and was 7 for 10 from the free-throw line.

W-M coach Todd Cripe said Guzy was devastated that she didn’t play in the last game against MCHS due to her illness. It was the first contest she missed this season.

“She was kicking herself that she couldn’t play, but I told her it is what it is,” Cripe said. “It’s a long season. There’s a lot more season to go other than just one Pink Out game against Montgomery. I know it meant a lot to her to play, but her health was more important.”

W-M trailed 37-31 in the third quarter, but outscored LCA 24-10 in the fourth. The Tigers held the Eagles to just two field goals and forced them to make 11 turnovers in the final quarter.

Also for the Tigers, freshman Helanea McKenzie scored six points and grabbed three rebounds off the bench, sophomore Keigan Hall had seven points and five rebounds, junior Jenelle Boeckelman finished with three points and six rebounds, juniors Meagan Cripe and Bethany Slovensky each had four points and senior Natalie Boeckelman had two points.

Cripe said McKenzie has been a solid addition to the Tigers this season.

“Helanea is getting better and better, “ he said. “I would love to get her some more touches on the offensive end because I think she will shoot a little bit when she’s got some ability. She has to get used to the speed of the game.”

With the game tied at 41-41 midway in the fourth quarter, Jenelle Boeckelman hit a free throw to break the tie and start a 7-0 run.

The Tigers won their second home game of the season. They also bounced back from the 54-33 loss to Montgomery County in the Pink Out game.

W-M will be back in action at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 28, when it plays East Harrison in the Holiday Hoops Shootout at North Central Missouri College in Trenton. The Tigers are part of an event that includes many small-school teams from all over Missouri.

W-M also had wins over Columbia Independent, South Callaway and Mexico. Before this season, the Tigers haven’t been at the .500 mark since 2009.

In the boys contest, W-M stormed to a 13-2 lead earlier in the second quarter and never looked back against LCA.

Sophomore Carson Huff scored 12 points, senior Dylan Alsop had 11 points and five rebounds, senior Jacob Mandrell finished with eight points and four rebounds for the Tigers, who have won four of their last five games.