After losing to Oskaloosa in the Jefferson County North tournament a week earlier, the McLouth High girls basketball squad bounced back and defeated Oskaloosa, 46-42, Saturday in McLouth.

Positioned just six miles northwest of McLouth, Oskaloosa naturally is a main rival of the Bulldogs.

On Friday, the school held a pep rally in preparation for the big game. That night, both boys and girls teams defeated the visiting Bears.

“The girls really responded well,” MHS coach Keith Miller said.

Miller said the team followed a Jan. 30 loss to Troy with two strong practices Wednesday and Thursday last week.

Rachel Thompson led the Bulldogs in scoring with 15. She also had seven rebounds and three assists.

Meanwhile, Missy Rome notched a double-double, scoring 14 and hauling in 10 rebounds. She also had two assists and a blocked shot.

“She’s been playing well as of late for us,” Miller said about Thompson. “And Missy’s been pretty consistent all through the year. She had a really good game after a so-so game on Tuesday (Jan. 30 against Troy).”

Abby Annis nearly scored in double figures as well.

She scored nine points for the Bulldogs. She also had three rebounds and two assists.

“If she can continue to play well and give us that third scoring option, that will help us,” Miller said.

The MHS coach also commended some players whose effort might not show up in the post-game statistics.

“Megan Howerton played well off the bench for us,” Miller said. “Haley Holwick continues to do a great job defensively. Sam Farris played well for us.

“There were good contributions up and down the lineup, so the girls played well for us.”

McLouth shot 42.2 percent (19-for-45) from the field, while Oskaloosa made 30.2 percent of its shots (19-for-63). The Bears also were just 1-for-11 from three-point land, compared to the Bulldogs’ 1-for-2.

The win improved the Bulldogs to 6-8 on the season.

After a game Tuesday near Easton against Pleasant Ridge, McLouth will play Friday against Horton. MHS also will travel Tuesday to Highland to take on Doniphan West.

Troy takes out McLouth

McLouth managed a two-point lead at the end of a low-scoring 6-4 first quarter Jan. 30 against Troy. The Trojans, though, responded and never looked back during the next three quarters.

Troy took a 22-16 lead into the half and increased that advantage in the second half for a 42-26 win.

Annis led the Bulldogs in scoring with 14, while Rome scored eight.

McLouth 46, Oskaloosa 42

Score by quarters

Oskaloosa 9 8 8 17 — 42

McLouth 12 8 13 13 — 46

Individual scoring

Oskaloosa — Heston 15, Allen 9, Rockhold 8, Newell 4, Sorensen 4, Ottsenmeier 2.

McLouth — Thompson 15, Rome 14, Annis 9, Farris 2, Holwick 2, Shufflebarger 2, Howerton 2.

Troy 42, McLouth 26

Score by quarters

Troy 4 18 8 12 — 42

McLouth 6 10 4 6 — 26

Individual scoring

Troy — Masters 10, Morgan 10, Fenley 6, Franken 6, Sutton 5, Turpin 2, Johnson 2, Speaks 1.

McLouth — Annis 14, Rome 8, Thompson 2, Shufflebarger 2.