The combination of stifling defense and timely third-quarter shooting sent the sophomore-heavy Lawson Lady Cardinals to a 36-29 district quarterfinal win over the Trenton Lady Bulldogs on Monday night, in basketball action from Bishop LeBlond High School broadcast on Hot Country Z 101.7 and www.kgozfm.com.

Trenton started the game well, leading 7-5 after one quarter, but the middle two quarters would bring struggles for Trenton, particularly on the offensive end, as the Lady Bulldogs had difficulty in finding open looks and hitting baskets against Lawson's 2-3 zone. The Lady Cardinals outscored Trenton 11-5 in the second quarter (taking a 16-12 halftime edge), and 11-6 in the third quarter. That margin was 11-2 in the third until Trenton sophomore guard McKinley Hurley hit back-to-back baskets to end the third quarter, cutting Lawson's advantage to 27-18.

Trenton got as close as five in the fourth quarter, but Lawson stalled offensively wilting away the clock, and the Lady Cardinals hit enough free throws late to end Trenton's season. The Lady Bulldogs finish the campaign at 20-6, with Cassidy Cotton leading her squad with 10 points. Of Trenton's losses, two came against KCI Conference foes Lawson and Hamilton, one in a Holiday Hoops make-up game against the MEC's Lafayette Irish, and the other a one-point December loss at Class 2 state-ranked Marceline. Trenton will graduate three starting seniors, in Avery Whitaker, Megan Sole, and Scotlin Hurley, but should return good talent for 2013-2014, including seniors-to-be Makaila Capeder and Cassidy Cotton, and junior-to-be McKinley Hurley.

Lawson, in moving its record to 18-8 on the season, had 11 points from Kerstin Huffman and 10 points from MaKayla McNeely. The Lady Cardinals will play #2 seed Cameron in Wednesday night's semifinal round. Cameron advanced with a 61-43 win over Plattsburg. The other final scores from Monday night at LeBlond were: #1 Hamilton girls 49, Maryville 24 and the #4 seed LeBlond girls survived a test against Lathrop 45-43. LeBlond and Penney will meet in Wednesday night's other girls semifinal.

BOY'S quarterfinals will be played on TUESDAY night at Bishop LeBlond High School in St. Joseph, with the LeBlond boys playing Lathrop at 4:15, the Maryville Spoofhounds against Plattsburg at 5:45, the Cameron Dragons (#1 seed) against Hamilton at 7:15, and the #5 seed Trenton Bulldogs against Lawson at 8:45. The Bulldog-Cardinal battle will be broadcast on Hot Country Z 101.7 and www.kgozfm.com.

Here are other district basketball scores from Monday, February 18th:

Class 2, District 6 at Queen City (Schuyler):
BOYS:
Putnam County 95, Milan 52 (on Hot Country Z 101.7)
Marceline 50, Westran 39
GIRLS:
Marceline 45, Westran 24
Schuyler County 54, Putnam County 46

Class 2, District 16 at Gallatin:
GIRLS:
South Harrison 67, Princeton 40 (on KTTN FM 92.3)
East Buchanan 46, St. Joseph Christian 37
Maysville 64, Albany 21
Gallatin 62, Tarkio 39

Class 1, District 15 at Grant City:
BOYS:
North Mercer 74, Cainsville 31
Jefferson 55, North Harrison 38
Ridgeway 61, Worth County 54
Stanberry 49, NE Nodaway 42

Class 1, District 11 at Green City:
GIRLS:
Gilman City 44, Newtown-Harris 16
Linn County 60, Novinger 38
BOYS:
Linn County 63, Gilman City 53
Newtown-Harris 67, Novinger 37