These girls havent had much experience in maintaining a lead, he said. They are improving every game. They now need to take it to the next level. Our next step is to finish close games and have more composure when we are ahead.

In the Elgin game, high scorer was Hailee McClure, with 15 points, all in the first half. They put the clamps on Hailee, Wells said. The 21-point lead came right after Breeanna Gibson who hit 13 altogether scored a 3-pointer and two 2-pointers in short order at the beginning of the third.

The only other points scored by the E-Gals in the rest of the game were two free throws by Lexi Nelson and one by Holly Taylor (the only point in the fourth by Joseph).

Elgin went on a run in the fourth, and we couldnt stop their momentum, Wells said.

Among handicaps were the absence of point guard Sidney Cooney, who was unable to attend the Elgin game, and Gibson fouling out in the fourth.

In addition to the scores mentioned above, Noel Taylor contributed 4 points in the Elgin game.

Enterprise is a very powerful team and very well-coached, said Wells about the E-Gals first game of the Classic. Our girls gave it their full effort. The score was pretty devastating, but they stayed positive and were eager to play Elgin.

Joseph players scoring in the game against EHS were: Gibson, 8; Satori Albee, 4; Lexi Nelson, 3; and McClure, Holly Taylor and Lindsey Kemp, each 2 points.

Joseph High School will host its own tournament Friday and Saturday, Dec. 14 and 15, with the girls scheduled to play at 6 p.m. Friday against Prairie City.