Lady Indians Defeat Idalia
On Friday night, January 5, the Lady Indians traveled to Idalia, Colorado, to compete in high school basketball. The Lady Indians defeated Idalia in both contests. The junior varsity defeated Idalia in a two-quarter contest 20-7. The varsity contest was close throughout, but the Lady Indians held on for a 51-44 victory.
In junior varsity action, the Lady Indians jumped out to an early 9-0 lead. In the run, the Lady Indians earned a left-wing deuce by Alondra Gomez, a right-elbow basket by Karly Bandel, a left-wing trey by Gomez (assist Bandel), and a driving score by Bandel. Late in the first period, Idalia got on the scoreboard making one-of-two from the free-throw line. With the addition a Taighe Weeter layup following a steal and assist by Emma Johnson, the Lady Indians led 11-1 at the quarter break.
Emma Johnson added a free-throw to open the second period. Idalia then scored their first basket of the contest (plus one). The Lady Indians would score the next eight points on an offensive rebound by Hanna Zimbal, two free-throws by Johnson, a jumper by Zimbal after a steal and assist by Alondra Gomez, and a right-wing shot by Emileigh Dinkel. The Lady Indians' advantage grew to 20-4. Idalia's Kehlsie Juhnke made a right-wing trey in the closing moments of the contest. St. Francis defeated Idalia in the junior varsity contest 20-7
Scoring for St. Francis is the JV game were Alondra Gomez 5, Karly Bandel 4, Hannah Zimbal 4, Emma Johnson 3, Taighe Weeter 2, and Emileigh Dinkel 2.
The varsity contest was close throughout with 5 ties and 9 lead changes in the first three quarters. Idalia opened the contest with two free-throws by Breann Shaffer (Jr.). Neither team scored again for several minutes, and at 4:42, St. Francis called time-out to discuss strategy. After returning to the floor, Taighe Weeter placed the Lady Indians on the scoreboard with a pair of free-throws. Shaffer soon answered with a driving score completing well-executed press offense. Weeter then added an offensive rebound basket, Lauren Johnson contributed a free-throw, and Weeter a jumper (after an offensive rebound and assist by Karly Bandel) to lead 7-4. Idalia closed the first period with a Shaffer free-throw and a deep trey at the buzzer by Ysabelle Mireles (Sr.). St. Francis trailed after one period of play 7-8.
St. Francis opened the second period with a nice back-door cut by Taighe Weeter (assist Hanna Bracelin). Shaffer soon answered at the opposite end with a stick-back basket. A basket by Karly Bandel (assist Bracelin), and free-throws by Lauren Johnson and Reagan Beims moved the scoreboard to 13-10. Idalia's Crystal Cordova added a driving score midway through the period, and Weeter followed with a basket for the Lady Indians (assist Beims). With 3:30 remaining in the period, Idalia used their first time-out. St. Francis would add one more point before halftime; a free-throw by Hanna Zimbal. Idalia earned a trey and a free-throw by Cordova to tie the game at 16-all at the break.
St. Francis took a short-lived lead on a free-throw by Lindsey Johnson in the opening moments of the third period. Shaffer's post basket soon placed Idalia back in front. An assist by Reagan Beims led to a high-post basket by Lauren Johnson, but Shaffer again answered with an offensive rebound. It would be the last lead the Lady Wolves would possess. Taighe Weeter's stick-back score (plus one gave St. Francis the lead they would not relinquish. Shaffer's baseline drive tied the game at 22-all. St. Francis followed with baskets by Beims (drive) and Weeter (right elbow) to take a 26-22 advantage. The four-point margin was the largest thus far in the contest by either team. A Cordova charity toss and a left-wing trey by Shaffer again tied the contest at 26-all with 1:47 left in the third period. St. Francis soon added a free-throw and a right-wing trey by Lauren Johnson. Karly Bandel added a top-of-the-key trey moving the scoreboard to 33-26. As she had done at the end of the first period, Mireles drained another deep trey to close the quarter. St. Francis led 33-29 at the third-quarter break.
The final period became a bit of a free-throw contest as 21 free-throws were shot in the period (13 by SF; 8 by Idalia). Hanna Bracelin opened the final stanza with a pair of free-throws and followed with an assist to Karly Bandel increasing the Lady Indian lead to 37-29 and triggering an Idalia time-out at 6:15. After the time-out, Shaffer scored 6 consecutive points broken only by two free-throws by Lauren Johnson. The Shaffer baskets reduced the Lady Indians' advantage to four (39-35). Lauren Johnson responded with another trey for the Lady Indians. After a free-throw by Idalia's Cloey Jones (Fr.) Taighe Weeter added a post basket on an assist by Bracelin (44-36). A pair of Shaffer free-throws trimmed the margin to 6 and caused a SF time-out at 2:46. After the time-out, Cordova scored for Idalia on a drive (44-40) and Idalia immediately used another time-out. On the next two SF possessions, Bandel made 2 of 3 from the line to make the score 46-40. Weeter followed with a driving score giving St. Francis an eight-point advantage. Idalia used another time-out after a Cordova score from the post at 1:06. At 48.3, Bracelin sank consecutive free-throws returning the margin to 8 points (50-42). The Lady Indians would add another free-throw by Bandel at 18.5 seconds. Idalia closed the contest with a right-corner basket by Cordova. The game had been a battle! St. Francis won 51-44.
St. Francis had three players score in double-figures: Taighe Weeter 19, Lauren Johnson 12, and Karly Bandel 11. Others scoring for St. Francis included Hanna Bracelin 4, Reagan Beims 3, Lindsey Johnson 1, and Hannah Zimbal 1. The Lady Indians committed 19 fouls and made 18 of 30 from the stripe.
Idalia was led by Breann Schaffer with 22 points. Crystal Cordova added 10. The Lady Wolves connected of 10 of 20 from the line and were whistled for 20 fouls.
St. Francis will play Weskan, in Weskan, on Tuesday, January 9.
Click the photos to see more photos!
