Girls Lose to DCS Lady Tigers
JV Lady Indians Win
St. Francis and Dundy County -Stratton split their games in St. Francis on Friday evening, December 16. The DCS Lady Tigers won the varsity contest 42-74. The junior varsity Lady Indians defeated DCS by a score of 32-14.
The highly-rated Dundy County - Stratton Lady Tigers demonstrated why they are a favorite to return to the Nebraska State Basketball Tournament. The Lady Tigers (6-0) used very aggressive defensive pressure to contain the Lady Indians' offensively and also forced a few turnovers that they quickly converted to scores. The Lady Tigers jumped out to a double-digit first quarter lead and gradually extended the lead throughout the contest. It was not all gloomy for the Lady Indians however, as they handled the intense pressure with much more confidence than has been demonstrated recently, and continued to play aggressively throughout the game.
The Lady Tigers opened the contest with a stick-back basket by Jera Myers (So.). A nice assist from Taighe Weeter to Hanna Bracelin on a break (plus one) gave the Lady Indians their only lead of the contest (3-2). Adalene Krutsinger (So.) scored on a baseline drive giving the Lady Tigers the lead for good. Trailing 3-8, Bracelin scored again on an offensive rebound. The Lady Tigers then reeled off 8 straight points to extend the deficit to 5-16. The Lady Indians used their first time-out at 3:42. Lindsey Johnson scored in the lane on a nice assist by Bracelin dropping the margin inside 10 points for the moment (7-16), but DCS followed with a shot in the lane. After a Weeter free-throw, the Lady Tigers scored seven unanswered points, including a trey by Allie Behlke (Jr.) to make the first quarter score 8-25.
Not many team teams can apply the defensive pressure exhibited by the Lady Tigers. The pressure caused miscues by the Lady Indians, but there were signs of growing confidence as the game progressed. The second quarter opened with a steal-two by Taighe Weeter. An assist by Reagan Beims to Weeter on a break moved the scoreboard to 13-30, and Beims' next assist to Weeter resulted in a baseline score. The Lady Indians trimmed the lead to 15 (15-30), but then allowed DCS to score ten unanswered points to stretch the margin to 15-40. The final score of the DCS run came on a right corner trey at 4:26. Lauren Johnson's top-of-the-key trey ended the DCS run. Lauren followed with a second trey trimming the margin to 21-40. After a DCS score, Lindsey Johnson's assist led to a baseline score by Hanna Bracelin. Weeter followed with a coast-to-coast drive (25-42). Three consecutive scores from the post by Krutsinger and Aubrey Frederick (Sr.) closed the first half. St. Francis trailed 25-48 at halftime.
Aubrey Frederick opened the third period with a fast-break score. Lauren Johnson answered with a stick-back basket. Emily Jones' (Sr.) free-throw area jumper was followed by a top-of-the-key trey by Hanna Bracelin. Bracelin added a free-throw moments later triggering a DCS time-out at 4:56 (32-51). A score by Reagan Beims (assist Lauren Johnson) on a cut through the lane moved the scoreboard to 33-54. DCS responded with another run of eleven points putting the game out-of-reach. The final two shots of the run came on a left-wing jumper by Madison Lambley (Sr.) and a right-corner trey by Hally Waters (Sr.). With less than two minutes left in the period, Lindsey Johnson's deuce from the left corner trimmed the margin to 30 (35-65). St. Francis trailed 35-66 after three periods of play.
The fourth period was played with a running clock due to the 30-point rule. DCS scored the first four points of the quarter before Lindsey Johnson scored from the right baseline. Hanna Bracelin followed with a top-of-the-key trey. After two more DCS fast-break baskets, St. Francis called time-out at 3:54 trailing 40-74. In the final four minutes, the only score was post basket by Reagan Beims after an assist by Taighe Weeter. St. Francis lost to a very good DCS Lady Tiger team, 42-74.With a 62-14 win over Perkins County on Saturday, December 17, Dundy County -Stratton moved their season record to 8-0. The Lady Tigers are averaging 63.63 ppg and allowing 26.88 ppg. The Lady Indians 42 point total was the most points scored against the Lady Tigers this season (previous high 38).
Aubrey Fredericks (Sr.) led all scorers with 20 points. Kami Porter (So.) scored 17 as did Adalene Krutsinger (So.). The Lady Tigers made 6 of 13 from the free-throw line.
St. Francis was led by Hanna Bracelin with 14 points. Taighe Weeter added 9 (8 in 2nd qtr.), Lauren Johnson 7, Lindsey Johnson 7, Reagan Beims 4, and Madi Tice 1. The Lady Indians made 5 of 11 from the stripe.
The Lady Indians will play Bethune, Colorado, in St. Francis, on Tuesday, December 20. The Lady Bobcats enter the game with a record of 2-2 having defeated Hanover and Nederland and losing to Eads and Deer Trail. The Lady Cats are led by K. Schultz averaging 22 ppg and 5.8 rpg. Two other players to watch for are D. Barraza (10.5 ppg / 7.5 rpg) and J. Flores (7.3 ppg / 3 rpb). The Lady Bobcats are shooting 43% from the field and earning 20 steals a game.
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