The LaBelle Cowboys/Cowgirls were the 40-22 winner over the Clewiston Tigers when they last played one another back in November of 2023, but their luck changed this time around. LaBelle was just a bucket shy of victory on Monday and fell 51-50 to Clewiston. LaBelle just can't catch a break and has now endured three defeats in a row.
When it comes to explaining why LaBelle lost, one person who can't be blamed is Marissa Burchard. Despite the final result, she scored 24 points along with five rebounds and three steals. Burchard has been hot recently, having posted two or more steals the last seven times she's played. Another player making a difference was Braulynne Flores, who scored four points along with nine rebounds.
Clewiston found their leader in underclassman Milan Holomes, who scored 11 points along with nine steals. The team also got some help courtesy of Tyra Fields, who scored seven points along with 13 rebounds.
LaBelle's defeat ended a four-game streak of away wins and brought them to 9-7. As for Clewiston, they have been performing incredibly well recently as they've won eight of their last nine matches, which provided a nice bump to their 9-3 record this season.
Both teams will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. LaBelle won't have much time to rest: their next match is against Gateway Charter at 6:00 p.m. on January 23rd. The matchup should be an exciting one, as these teams are ranked near one another in Florida (Gateway Charter is ranked 322nd, while LaBelle is ranked 337th). As for Clewiston, they will head out on the road to face off against Glades Central at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Glades Central is coming into the matchup on a three-game losing streak.
