Junior High Girls Club the Lady Wildcats
The junior high girls basketball teams both defeated Wallace County in games played on Monday, November 24, in St. Francis. The A team girls jumped all over the Lady Wildcats early in the contest and cruised to a 39-10 victory. The B team girls defeated Wallace County 33-11.
What a difference two weeks and one player can make! On November 6, St. Francis won the first meeting between the two A teams by a score of 25-17. The game was close throughout the contest. This time, with Wallace County playing without their outstanding quard Lakin Perry, the Lady Indians cruised to a dominating victory. St. Francis jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead with all three baskets set up by assists by Karly Bandel. The first two baskets were scored by Jessica Confer and Lauren Johnson, each coming on the fast-break. The third assist resulted in a Lauren Johnson basket on a well-executed out-of-bounds play. Lindsey Johnson scored on an offensive rebound to move the score to 8-0. Wallace County took their first time out less than four minutes into the contest. An assist by Lauren to sister Lindsey resulted in a free-throw-line jumper on the next Lady Indian possession. St. Francis began substituting players late in the first period. A bit later, Lauren sank consecutive free throws after being fouled on the break, and Shalyn Zweygardt made one-of-two to bring the first quarter score to 13-0.
Lindsey Johnson opened the second quarter with a steal-two. Lauren Johnson followed with a shot from the top of the key. A steal and assist by Lauren Johnson set up a basket by Jessica Confer on the break. Karly Bandel scored on an offensive rebound on the next Lady Indian possession. The score had ballooned to 21-0. With many St. Francis players seeing large amounts of playing time, the advantage continued to increase. Karly Bandel nailed a shot from the left wing (assist Lindsey Johnson). To close the first half, Lauren connected from the left wing, and Jessica Confer swished a shot from the left baseline. The Lady Indians led 27-0 at halftime.
Many Lady Indians received ample playing time in the second half. Lauren Johnson scored the first two baskets of the second half on assists from Confer and Bandel. Lindsey Johnson scored on an offensive rebound stick-back (33-0) and the Lady Indians substitute players took over. Wallace County scored their first basket with 2:46 left in the 3rd period. With 36 seconds left, the Lady Wildcats added a trey. St. Francis led 33-5 after three periods.
The Lady Wildcats added two more baskets early in the final period (33-9). Midway through the final period, the Lady Indians earned baskets by Jessica Confer (assist Lindsey), Lauren Johnson (assist Confer), and Shalyn Zweygardt (assist Bandel on an out-of-bounds play) to move the score to 39-9. The game was completed with a running clock due to the 30-point rule used in NWKL play. St. Francis won the A team game 39-10.
Lauren Johnson led the Lady Indians in scoring with 18 points. Jessica Confer added 8, Lindsey Johnson 6, Karly Bandel, 4 and Shalyn Zweygardt 3. Lindsey Johnson snagged 13 rebounds for the Lady Indians. Wallace County was led in scoring by Kuhlman with 6 points.
The B team game, played in the grade school gym, was won by St. Francis, 33-11. St. Francis led 7-6 after one quarter of play and extended the lead to 11-8 at halftime. Using good pressure defense and offensive rebounding, the Lady Indians stretched the lead to 23-10 after three periods of play and cruised to a decisive win.
Scoring in the B team game for the Lady Indians were: Shalyn Zweygardt 8, Hannah Zimbal 7, Sierra Robbins 6, Alondra Gomez 4, Jayden McGinnis 4, Marlo Jensen 2, and Echoe Lennox 2. Marlo Jensen grabbed 16 rebounds in the contest. No one scored more than 2 points for the Lady Wildcats.
The junior high girls will play Greeley County, in Tribune, on Tuesday, December 2.
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