Junior High Girls Defeat Good Rawlins County Teams
The junior high girls basketball teams all earned victories over the visiting Rawlins County Lady Buffaloes on Thursday, November 30. The A-team defeated Rawlins County in an exciting overtime game 37-34. The B-team earned a 31-28 win in the Grade School Gymnasium as did the C-team, 24-13.
The A-team contest was highly contested throughout. Neither team possessed a lead greater than 4 points in the contest. The game was tied 7 times and the teams exchanged the lead 17 times. With both teams expending outstanding effort and executing well, it was an outstanding junior high contest. Rawlins County (RC) jumped out to a quick lead scoring the first two field goals of the contest. The Lady Buffs scored on the opening tip and then followed with a steal-two by Abby Singhateh to lead 0-4. Talexa Weeter answered with a score in the lane, and Mia Morrow added an offensive rebound basket (plus one) to give St. Francis their first lead 5-4. The teams then traded 5 baskets ending with a lane basket by Ashley Singhateh moving the scoreboard to 9-10. McKenna Poling sank one-of-two free-throws to tie the contest at 10-all after one quarter of play.
RC opened the second period with a free-throw line jumper by Ashley Singhateh. A free-throw by Ellee Krien and a drive by Talexa Weeter gave the Lady Indians a 13-12 lead at 5:05. St. Francis extended their lead to three (15-12) with the addition of two Weeter free-throws, but soon Rylee Unruh drained a shot from the left wing for RC. After a time-out, RC increased their defensive pressure, and the move resulted in a turnover-two giving RC the lead. After two more Weeter free-throws, RC's Emmerson Higley scored on a break giving RC a slim one-point lead with 1:05 remaining in the half. A free-throw by Jordan Faulkender tied the contest at 18-all before halftime.
Jordan Faulkender's offensive rebound basket gave St. Francis a two-point lead early in the third period. Unruh soon answered from the left baseline. St. Francis earned their largest lead of the contest (24-20) after two consecutive baskets by Faulkender (steal-two and a drive). Abby Singhateh answered with two scores on well-executed press offense and a free-throw to place the Lady Buffs back in front (24-25). On the next possession, an assist by Mia Morrow set up a lay-up by Talexa Weeter. St. Francis trailed 26-27 at the third quarter break after two free-throws by Ashley Singhateh.
St. Francis earned the first points of the 4th quarter; two free-throws by Jordan Faulkender after an offensive rebound. At 3:35, Abby Singhateh scored on a well-executed out-of-bounds play giving RC and 28-29 lead. A minute later, Faulkender sank consecutive free-throws to regain the lead. On the next possession, a steal-two by Talexa Weeter gave the Lady Indians a 32-29 lead with 2:25 to go. After two-time outs, one by each team, and back-to-back turnovers, the Lady Buff's Emmerson Higley drained a trey tying the contest with 7 seconds to play. The game moved to overtime tied 32-all.
Seven points were scored in the overtime. With 2:52 remaining, Talexa Weeter swished two-of-two from the line. RC answered with a press offense basket by Audrey Moore at 2:25. Jordan Faulkender sank a free-throw at 1:18 giving St. Francis the lead for good (35-34). After an exchange of time-outs, Mia Morrow added another free-throw to the Lady Indians' score. With a two-point lead, St. Francis called time-out with 29 seconds left and began to "milk the clock." Weeter made another free-throw with 5 seconds left to make the final score 37-34.
Scoring for the Lady Indians were: Talexa Weeter 17, Jordan Faulkender 12, Mia Morrow 4, Lyden Lampe 2, Ellee Krien 1, and McKenna Poling 1. St. Francis was 19 of 33 from the free-throw line. Rawlins County was led by Abby Singhateh with 13 points. Ashley Singhateh added 6 and Emmerson Higley 5. The Lady Buffs made 3 of 10 from the line.
In B-team action, the teams were tied at 6 after one quarter of play and at 12-all at halftime. St. Francis scored 12 points in the third period, receiving 4 each from Bailey Workman a Dani Broughman and 2 each from Jesslynn Houtman and Miah Hackney. The outburst place the Lady Indians at a 24-19 advantage at the end of three quarters of play. The Lady Indians went on to win the contest 31-38.
Scoring for St. Francis in the B-team contest were: Miah Hackney 8, Jesslynn Houtman 6, Dani Brouoghman 6, Rian Zimbal 4, Bailey Workman 4, Hadleigh Hilt 2, and Lyden Lampe 1. Rawlins County was led by Judy Hawkins with 8 points.
St. Francis will play Greeley County, in Tribune, on Thursday, December 7.
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