Sluggish Third Quarter Stalls Lady Indians
The Lady Indians played the undefeated and highly ranked (#3 KBCA) Hoxie Lady Indians close for three quarters on Friday evening, February 2. St. Francis led by one point at halftime (26-25) and played within three points in the final period, but the Lady Indians struggled to score in the third quarter, and the funk decided the contest as Hoxie out-scored the Lady Indians 24-6 in the period.
St. Francis scored on their first possession of the contest on an assist by Hanna Bracelin leading to a press-offense basket by Taighe Weeter. Hoxie guard Addie Campbell (So.) answered on a turnover-two a short time later. With both teams playing pressuring defense, the turnovers mounted quickly by both teams. St. Francis would tally 24 to Hoxie's 20. A post-move basket by Rebekah Castle (Sr.) was followed by a free-throw by Lauren Johnson. Johnson's assist to Weeter on the baseline gave St. Francis a 5-4 lead. Weeter's trey from the left-corner increased the lead, and with the addition of consecutive free-throws by Bracelin, the Lady Indians led 10-4 with 4:10 left in the first period. Another St. Francis turnover lead to an easy Hoxie score. The next Lady Indian turnover resulted in a Hoxie trey by Castle from the top-of-the key. The Lady Indian advantage had been narrowed to 10-9, and St. Francis called time-out to regroup at 3:12. Nearly a minute passed before the next score; an offensive rebound basket by Campbell. Weeter was fouled after securing an offensive rebound and made 1 of 2 tying the contest. After a Hoxie time-out at 1:28, Maiah Castle (Jr.) scored the final basket of the period from the baseline. St. Francis trailed 11-13 after one period of action.
On the opening possession of the second period, Jylian Laten's assist led to a left-elbow basket by Hanna Bracelin. Taighe Weeter then scored completing a well-executed attack on press offense (plus one). After a Campbell free-throw, Lilly Schamberger drained a trey from the left-wing giving Hoxie a 16-17 advantage. Lindsey Johnson answered with a trey from the right-corner on the opposite goal triggering a Hoxie time-out at 4:11. Bracelin's two free-throws at 3:10 increased the advantage to 21-17, but Macy Schamberger's bucket narrowed the gap moments later. At 1:40, Hoxie retook the lead (21-22) on a left-corner trey by Maiah Castle. Taighe Weeter nailed a right-wing three-ball on the next Lady Indian possession. Macy Schamberger's left-wing basket tied the contest at 24-all in the final minute. Each team would score once more. St. Francis received a post-basket by Lauren Johnson (assist Bracelin) and Hoxie added a free-throw when St. Francis fouled on a shot at the buzzer. St. Francis led 26-25 at halftime.
Sixteen seconds into the third period, Hanna Bracelin picked up her 3rd foul sending Rebekah Castle to the line where she made 1 of 2. On the next Hoxie possession, Lilly Schamberger swished a left-corner trey. It was a precursor of what was to come. Though Karly Bandel scored on a drive for St. Francis, Hoxie added five more scores before the Lady Indians would score again. The Lady Indians missed several close shots and had several turnovers during the run, and with just four minutes gone in the period, the Lady Indians trailed by eleven (28-39). At 2:58, St. Francis scored for the second time in the period on a basket in the lane by Bracelin. Lilly Schamberger followed with a stick-back basket on the next Hoxie possession. Bandel's free-throws preceded three more Hoxie baskets late in the period. St. Francis was out-scored 6-24 during the quarter. St. Francis trailed 32-49 after three periods of play.
The Hoxie run continued into the fourth period. Hoxie scored the first two baskets of the final period extending the deficit to 32-54. The 6-28 run had determined the game's winner. St. Francis received 6 points from Taighe Weeter and Reagan Beims and 3 from Lauren Johnson in the period, but Hoxie remained undefeated with a 47-67 win over the Lady Indians.
Taighe Weeter led the Lady Indians in scoring with 20 points. Hanna Bracelin chipped in 8. Others scoring for the Lady Indians included Lauren Johnson 6, Reagan Beims 6, Karly Bandel 4, and Lindsey Johnson 3. The Lady Indians made 12 of 19 from the line, committed 24 turnovers, and were whistled for 13 fouls.
Hoxie had three players in double figures: Lilly Schamberger 16, Rebekah Castle 13, and Addie Campbell 11. Brooke Dorenkamp chipped in 8 points. Hoxie recorded 16 fouls and 20 turnovers. The visiting Lady Indians made 9 of 20 from the stripe.
In junior varsity action, Emileigh Dinkel sank two free-throws to give St. Francis their first lead of the contest (2-1). After falling behind 2-5, Dinkel added another free-throw. Karly Bandel scored on a drive approximately mid-way through the first period moving the scoreboard to 5-7. A 2:35, Lindsey Johnson scored on an offensive rebound tying the game at 7. Hoxie answered with a shot from the left-corner. On the next St. Francis possession, Lauren Johnson scored from the left-wing after an assist by Hannah Zimbal. With the addition of a Zimbal free-throw, St. Francis led 10-9 at the first-quarter break.
Hoxie scored from the post on the opening possession of the second and final period. A free-throw area basket by Karly Bandel gave St. Francis the lead for good (12-11). After an exchange of free-throws, Emma Johnson drained a left-wing trey increasing the lead to 16-12. Hoxie would add only three more free-throws. St. Francis earned free-throws by Jylian Laten and Johnson and a deuce by Emileigh Dinkel (assist Laten). St. Francis defeated Hoxie in the two-quarter junior varsity contest 20-15.
Scoring for St. Francis in the JV game were Emileigh Dinkel 5, Karly 4, Emma Johnson 4, Lindsey Johnson 2, Lauren Johnson 2, Hannah Zimbal 2, and Jylian Laten 1.
St. Francis will play Triplains-Brewster in Brewster on Tuesday, February 6.
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