Lady Dragons Defeat The Lady Indians
The Lady Indians and Lady Dragons from Holyoke, Colorado, split their games in St. Francis on Tuesday, December 17. The Lady Indians won the two-quarter junior varsity contest 19-6. The Lady Dragons won the varsity game 38-51.
The junior varsity game was evenly matched throughout the first period, but the Lady Indians took full control in the second period to cruise to a lop-sided win. Ellee Krien started the scoring making one-of-two from the line. After a Holyoke time-out at 5:30, Holyoke's Elise Krogmeier (5' 9" So.) tied the game with a charity toss. A basket by Janessa Lutze (5' 8" Fr.) gave Holyoke the lead, but Molly Gilliland soon answered for the Lady Indians. Lutze followed with a bucket (and one) from the paint giving Holyoke their largest lead of the game (3-6). It would be the last score of shortened game for the Lady Dragons. Gilliland scored from the right elbow bringing the score to 5-6 at the end of the first period.
Rian Zimbal made her presence known in the second period. Rian scored the first 8 points of the period for the Lady Indians. After connecting on consecutive free-throws, Zimbal scored in the post on an assist from Molly Gilliland. Zimbal then added another post basket and an offensive rebound score. The Lady Indians now led 13-6, and Holyoke called time-out at 5:19 to regroup. St. Francis would add three more scores; a steal-two by Mia Morrow and two steal-twos by Lyden Lampe. The increased defensive pressure by the Lady Indians had taken a toll. Holyoke committed 9 turnovers in the second period and St. Francis had capitalized to win 19-6.
In varsity action, Holyoke jumped out to a quick lead, and though the Lady Indians would tie the game, St. Francis never led in the contest. Kristin Vieselmeyer (6' 0" So.) displayed some of her skill set early in the contest connecting from the post to open the scoring. Sarah Razo (5' 3" Sr.) swished a shot from the left wing moments later. A free-throw by Lauren Herman (5' 10" So.) was followed by a transition basket by Correy Koellner (5' 8" Sr.) after an assist by the Lady Dragons' talented point guard Emily Jelden (5' 4" Sr.). Holyoke led 0-7, and St. Francis needed to make a play. Rian Zimbal followed with a basket in the paint for the Lady Indians' first points. An assist from Emma Johnson to Hannah Zimbal accounted for the next score in transition (plus one). The Lady Indians were now within two (5-7). A Jelden free-throw was followed by an offensive rebound basket by Jordyn Faulkender. A bit later, Faulkender's free-throw tied the contest at 8-all. The teams were tied after one period of play. Action in the first period was a bit choppy, as the teams totaled 16 points,15 turnovers, and 13 fouls.
Kristin Vieselmeyer did not play much of the first period due to two early fouls. Returning to action in the second quarter, it did not take long for her presence to be felt. Vieselmeyer scored on an stick-back basket to open the second period. Sarah Razo then added a right-wing trey moving the scoreboard to 8-13. An assist by Hannah Zimbal to Alondra Gomez on a a cut to the goal added two more for the Lady Indians. After a free-throw by Lauren Herman, Vieselmeyer added another post basket using excellent footwork and control. Gomez's two free-throws were more than answered by the next Razo trey; again from the right side. At 4:28, St. Francis called time-out trailing 12-19. After returning to the floor, Vieselmeyer added another post basket. Rian Zimbal answered from the post at the opposite end of the court, but Vieselmeyer scored in the lane on an assist from Correy Kellner moments later. At 1:32, Lauren Herman picked up her third foul and headed to the bench. Vieselmeyer's next basket made the score 14-23. Hannah Zimbal added a 3 free-throws to close the first half. St. Francis trailed 17-23 at halftime. In the first half, Holyoke tallied 9 turnovers, but the Lady Indians had 15. Viselmeyer scored 10 points in the second period for the Lady Dragons.
Play was much cleaner in the second half although numerous fouls would be whistled. Kristin Vieselmeyer added a stick-back basket to her total to open the third stanza. Emma Johnson's free-throw preceded another Holyoke offensive rebound score; this one by Shianne Willmon (5' 8" Sr.). Willmon also added the next basket culminating press offense. A steal-two by Victoria Race (5' 8" Sr.) added two more. Then it was Vieselmeyer's turn from the post. Lauren Herman's assist led to a fast-break score by Correy Willmon. Vieselmeyer's free-throw preceded a left-corner trey by Emily Jelden. Holyokes' 14-0 run had blown the game open. The Lady Dragons now led 18-39. St. Francis would earn an offensive rebound score by Rian Zimbal and a free-throw by Karly Bandel late in the period. Holyoke would add another Willmon basket. The Lady Indians trailed 23-41 at the third quarter break.
The Lady Indians would out-score the Lady Dragons in the final period, but the damage had already been done. Rian Zimbal added two free-throws early in the 4th quarter, and at 6:31, Holyoke used another time-out. Returning to action Lauren Herman scored driving right down the lane for a quick two points. St. Francis then called time-out at 5:48. Emma Johnson drained a left-wing trey, and Emily Jelden added a free-throw in the next few moments. An assist from Karly Bandel led to a post basket by Jordan Faulkender, but then Kristin Vieselmeyer added three points on a free-throw and a post score. With the addition of two free-throws by Jelden, the deficit rose to 30-49. St. Francis would score the next three trips down the floor. A high-post jumper by Hannah Zimbal was followed by two free-throws by Johnson. An assist by Zimbal led to a mid-post score by Faulkender. St. Francis had narrowed the gap to 13 (36-49). Only two more baskets would be added; an offensive rebound basket by Vieselmeyer and a bucket by Faulkender (assist Johnson). St. Francis had played competitively, but lost to a quality team from Holyoke 38-51.
Holyoke's talented post player, Kristin Vieselmeyer, led all scorers with 22 points. Victoria Race added 10 (8 in 3rd qtr.). Sarah Razo chipped in 8 and Emily Jelden 7 for the Lady Dragons. Holyoke made 8 of 16 from the line, had 21 fouls and 15 turnovers.
St. Francis was led in scoring by Rian Zimbal with 10 points. Emma Johnson and Hannah Zimbal each contributed 8 points. Others scoring for the Lady Indians were Jordyn Faulkender 5, Alondra Gomez 4, and Karly Bandel 3. The Lady Indians made 12 of 24 from the stripe, had 20 fouls, and 20 turnovers (only 5 in second half).
The Lady Indians will not play again until after Christmas Break. The Lady Indians will play at Idalia on January 10th, 2020.
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