Junior High Girls Split Games With Hoxie
On Thursday, January 3, the junior high girls basketball teams played Hoxie in St. Francis in their final game before the Northwest Kansas League Tournament. The Lady Indians split their contests with Hoxie. The A-team won in a well played game 42-23. The B-team lost a lop-sided contest to the visiting Lady Indians 4-53.
The Northwest Kansas League Junior High Girls Basketball Tournament will be held in Dighton on January 10 and 12. More information will be posted on the website when it becomes available.
In A-team action, St. Francis and Hoxie battled closely throughout the first period. An opening basket by Jesslynn Houtman and a free-throw by Rian Zimbal were offset by a post basket by Hoxie's Willow Washington (8th) and a free-throw by Skylar Tremblay (8th) tying the game at 3-3. Hoxie added a post basket by Washington and an offensive rebound bucket by Tremblay to take a 3-7 advantage. At 2:54, St. Francis called time-out and returned to the floor to score a post basket by Molly Gilliland. With 1:46 left in the first period, Washington was whistled for her third foul and went to the bench. The foul was an important turn in the contest as Washington's size and strength inside was no longer present. St. Francis followed with a free-throw by Zimbal and a right-baseline shot by Houtman to take a narrow 8-7 lead late in the quarter. Hoxie's Grace Schieferecke (8th) added the final basket of the period giving Hoxie an 8-9 advantage after one period of action.
Ellee Krien nailed a jumper near the free-throw line to open the second period. Jesslyn Houtman followed with two offensive rebound baskets. At 3:43, Hoxie called time-out trailing 14-9. The Lady Indians' run continued with the addition of a free-throw by Rian Zimbal, a post-move basket by Houtman (assist Krien), and two Houtman free-throws. The 11-0 Lady Indian run had moved the scoreboard to 19-9. On the next Hoxie possession, Kinley Rogers (7th) scored for Hoxie ending the St. Francis run. Zimbal added a free-throw, Hoxie's Tori Bainter (8th) tossed in a left-wing bank shot, and Houtman's assist led to an out-of-bounds play score by Krien. St. Francis led 22-13 at halftime.
St. Francis opened the second half with a steal-two by Ellee Krien. Jesslyn Houtman added a right-wing jumper extending the margin to thirteen (26-13). Hoxie's Shieferecke answered on the next possession. At 3:37, St. Francis used another time-out and returned to the floor to score a left wing shot by Houtman. Rian Zimbal followed with two offensive rebound baskets. The Lady Indians now led 32-15. Hoxie earned a basket on an nice fast-break assist from Josey Kennedy (7th) to Schiferecke, but Zimbal answered with another stick-back basket. The final score of the period came from Willow Washington; an offensive rebound score at the buzzer. St. Francis led 34-19 after three quarters of play.
Hoxie earned the first basket of the final period on an out-of-bounds play basket by Washington. Zimbal soon answered from the post. Neither team scored for several minutes, and at 2:52, St. Francis called time-out. In the final minutes, Zimbal added another stick-back basket, Houtman chipped in a free-throw, and Hoxie's Washington scored from the mid-post. The final basket of the game came at the buzzer; a trey by Krien. St. Francis earned a well-played 42-23 win over Hoxie in the A-team contest.
St. Francis received balanced scoring for three players. Jesslyn Houtman scored 17 points to lead all scorers. Rian Zimbal added 14 and Ellee Krien 9. Molly Gilliland chipped in two points. The Lady Indians made 7 of 14 from the line and committed 7 fouls.
Hoxie was led by Willow Washington with 10 points. Rogers and Schieferecke each added 4 points. Hoxie was whistled for 10 fouls and made 1 of 5 from the line.
The B-team contest was a lop-sided affair. St. Francis was severely over-matched in size and experience, but the Lady Indians battled hard throughout the contest. Hoxie opened the contest with two baskets by Mireya Villa (7th) to lead 0-4. St. Francis followed with a right-elbow basket by Maggie Hingst and right-baseline jumper by Makaila Matthies to tie the contest at 4-all. The Lady Indians would not score again in the contest. Hoxie's superior size and experience (five 8th graders and three 7th graders) took a toll, and the Lady Indians found it difficult to even earn a good look at the basket. Hoxie added numerous baskets on offensive rebounds and from the post as well as getting several nice fast-break baskets. The Lady Indians trailed 4-11 after one quarter and 4-26 at halftime. The margin grew to 4-39 after three periods and Hoxie defeated St. Francis 4-53 in the B-team contest. The fourth quarter was played with a running clock.
Hoxie was led by Hayden Fenner (8th) with 16 points. Genesis Harvey (7th) added 12 as did Danielle Bacon (7th). Hoxie made 2 of 4 from the line; St. Francis did not attempt a free throw. Each team had four fouls.
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