Girls Tame Lady Cougars
Second half runs decide game
On Tuesday, February 12, the St. Francis Lady Indians won both of their games over the Cheylin Lady Cougars in McDonald. The Lady Indians earned a 26-14 win in a two-quarter junior varsity game and then won the varsity contest 47-38.
Though the varsity Lady Indians suffered through a cold shooting evening, they gradually pulled away from the Lady Cougars in the second half. The varsity Lady Indians earned a quick basket from Hannah Zimbal in the post to open the scoring. Cheylin's Alondra Perez (5' 5" So.) added a press offense basket, and Jesie Frisbie (6' 0" Sr.) followed with a stick-back basket after a missed free-throw to earn the lead for the Lady Cougars. Midway through the first period, Karly Bandel added a free-throw. The Lady Indians were earning good looks at the goal, but were having difficulty making their shots. At 2:43, the Lady Indians used their first time-out. After returning to action, each team added a field goal; Kaylynn Hendricks (5' 8" Jr.) scored on press offense for the Lady Cougars, and Lauren Johnson added a basket on an offensive rebound. Cheylin led 5-6 after one period.
Grace Sabatka (5' 8" Jr.) drained a left-corner trey to open the second period. Lauren Johnson chipped in a free-throw for the Lady Indians. No other points were scored until after Cheylin took a time-out at 5:27. After a St. Francis turnover, Sabatka added two more to the Cheylin side of the scoreboard (6-11). With 3:05 remaining in the second period, St. Francis made their 3rd field goal of the game; a top-of-the-key trey by Lauren Johnson. Sabatka soon answered with a pair of free-throws. Lauren's next trey (assist Emma Johnson) trimmed the deficit to 12-13, but the Lady Cougars received two more Sabatka free-throws to lead 12-15 at the halftime intermission.
St. Francis opened the second half with a flurry. Lindsey Johnson scored on a fast break and then added a nice post move basket to give the Lady Indians the lead at 6:58 (16-15). Hannah Zimbal's free-throws triggered a Cheylin time-out at 5:32. After returning to the floor, Emma Johnson swished a top-of-the-key trey (assist Lauren Johnson). Karly Bandel added a free-throw a bit later, and with the addition of a right-wing trey by Lindsey Johnson (assist Alondra Gomez), the Lady Indians held a double-digit advantage (25-15) at 3:15. At 2:55 and trailing by 12, Cheylin called time-out attempting to change the momentum of the moment. The 15-0 St. Francis run was over, but it had changed the game completely. Jesie Frisbie and Alondra Perez each added consecutive free-throws to trim the margin to 27-19. Another time-out at 1:54 (SF) was followed by a trey by Alondra Gomez. The right-corner bank shot proved that "ole mo" was in the Lady Indians' favor. It would be the last score of the period for the Lady Indians. Cheylin would add free-throws by Jesie Frisbie, Josie Frisbie (5' 5" Sr.) and Grace Sabatka to close the quarter. St. Francis led 30-24 at the the third period horn.
The Lady Cougars would narrow the gap a bit more. Two more Sabatka free-throws moved the scoreboard to 30-26. The Lady Cougars were closing in, and Lady Indians were needing to score. Lindsey Johnson's assist to sister Lauren on a back-door cut (plus one) was just the answer. On the next Cheylin possession, Emma Johnson drew a charge on a drive by Alondra Perez adding momentum. Karly Bandel's drive and assist to Lindsey Johnson on the block added two more. The Lady Indians held a 35-26 advantage. After a post basket by Cheylin's Grace Sabatka, St. Francis called time-out with 3:57 remaining. After returning to action, Emma Johnson's assist led to a press offense basket by Hannah Zimbal. Lindsey Johnson followed with a driving score. At 2:17, Cheylin called time-out trailing 39-28. After an exchange of free-throws by Lauren Johnson and Sabatka, Jesie Frisbie scored on a St. Francis turnover. Alondra Gomez added a fast-break basket for St. Francis on an assist from Emma Johnson. Unfortunately, the Lady Indians would turn the ball over twice more with both resulting in Cheylin scores (Josie and Jessie Frisbie). Another Lady Indian turnover was redeemed by a steal-two by Gomez. After two more Sabatka free-throws (44-37), the Lady Indians committed yet another turnover. Cheylin did not score on the possession. A foul by Cheylin also resulted in two missed free-throws by St. Francis. The Lady Indians were having difficulty closing the contest. Sabatka soon added one-of-two at the line bringing the score to 44-38. Needing to foul to preserve the clock, the Lady Cougars fouled twice in the closing moments. Emma Johnson (1 of 2) and Karly Bandel (2 of 2) made free-throws to close the contest. St. Francis defeated the Cheylin Lady Cougars 47-38.
St. Francis was led in scoring by Lauren Johnson with 13 points. Lindsey Johnson added 11. Other Lady Indians contributing to the scoring were Alondra Gomez 7, Karly Bandel 6, Hanna Zimbal 6, and Emma Johnson 4. St. Francis made 10 of 20 from the line, committed 28 turnovers, and had 22 fouls.
Cheylin's Grace Sabatka led all scorers with 18 points. Jesie Frisbie added 9 for the Lady Cougars. Cheylin made 16 of 31 free-throws, had 19 fouls, and committed 29 turnovers.
The junior varsity girls contest was decided by a second quarter run similar to the one the varsity girls recorded in the second half. Lyden Lampe opened the JV game with a left wing deuce, but Cheylin's Nellie Hespe (5' 8" Fr.) soon answered from the post. After a free-throw by Mia Morrow, Sarah Mellinger (5' 5" Fr.) added a left-wing basket giving Cheylin a 3-4 lead. On the next possession, St. Francis answered with a driving score by Jordyn Faulkender. At 4:55, St. Francis called time-out. With the addition of a Faulkender free-throw and a left-wing trey by Alondra Gomez (assist Hannah ZImbal), the Lady Indians held a 9-4 advantage. Cheylin earned back-to-back baskets by Brisa Ibarra (5' 3" Fr.) and Hespe to pull within one (9-8). Faulkender's free-throw completed the first quarter scoring. St. Francis held a slim 10-8 lead after one period.Alondra Gomez turned a Cheylin turnover into a basket opening the second and final period. Mia Morrow added two free-throws a short time later. At 6:41, Cheylin called time-out trailing 14-8. Two free-throws by Jordyn Faulkender doubled the Cheylin total. After a post basket by Hespe, Morrow added two more free-throws, and Bailey Workman scored on an assist from Lampe. Cheylin used another time-out trailing by ten (20-10). Only two more baskets would be scored; a left-wing trey by Nora Castillo (5' 9" So.) and a jumper in the lane by Morrow. McKenna Poling, Morrow, and Faulkender all added free-throws for St. Francis in the final minutes. Castillo added one charity toss for Cheylin. St. Francis defeated Cheylin in junior varsity action 26-14.
The Lady Indians will play Hoxie, in Hoxie, on Thursday, February 14, in a make-up game postponed due to weather. The team will then travel to Tribune on Friday to play Greeley County.
The Lady Indians will play Northern Valley in the opening round of the Regional Tournament on Monday, February 18. The game will tip-off at 7:00 p.m. in the St. Francis High School Gymnasium.
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