Area Basketball Recap – Jan. 10
By: Aaron Pyle
Indians trounce Blu-Jays
In the previous matchup for the Lady Indians, Jan.6, St. Paul dominated the Uniontown Eagles 54-34. Following the victory, the Lady Indians traveled to Pleasanton Jan. 10 to face the Blu-Jays [3-2] in a conference battle.
St. Paul held the Blu-Jays to just seven points in the first half as the Lady Indians dominated their conference foe. The Lady Indians [6-2] went on to win 40-14 capturing the team’s second-straight victory.
Sophomore Emerald Struthers led the Lady Indians in scoring finishing her night with ten points. Senior Emily Hutcherson just missed the mark of finishing in double-digits as Hutcherson compiled nine points in the victory.
For the boys in their last matchup, Jan. 6, the Indians battled the Uniontown Eagles in a matchup that would go to overtime with the Indians prevailing 50-45. After the narrow victory, the Indians traveled to Pleasanton to face the Blu-Jays [1-3].
St. Paul trailed 13-11 after the first quarter but a 29-point second quarter helped pull the Indians ahead at halftime, 29-17. From there, the Indians [5-3] were able to maintain their double-digit lead for the remainder of the second half claiming a 45-21 victory over Pleasanton.
Senior Chandler Bradshaw put on a major performance for the Indians Friday night finishing the game with 18 points. Two other Indians players finished the night with double-digit scoring; senior Kaleb Lemmons [16] and senior Adam Albertini [14].
The Indians travel to Marmaton Valley, Dec. 14, to face the Wildcats in St. Paul’s third-straight away game.
Trojans split series with Titans
For the Lady Trojans, in their previous matchup Jan. 7, they were defeated by Labette County 60-35. Following the loss, Girard traveled to Columbus in a highly-anticipated matchup with the undefeated Columbus Titans [6-0].
The first half was a low-scoring affair on both sides of the ball. At halftime, the Titans trailed the Lady Trojans 19-11 after Girard held Columbus to two points in the second quarter.
Offensively and defensively, the Lady Trojans came out firing on all cylinders with the Titans struggling to find a basket. In arguably one of the best performances yet this season, the Lady Trojans outscored the Titans 26-10 in the second half to beat Columbus 45-21. The victory comes as Columbus’ first loss of the season.
Girard had three players finish the game with nine points; junior Makaila Ausemus, sophomore Lyllian Howard, and sophomore Faith Poland.
The Lady Trojans [2-2] are set to face the undefeated Carl Junction [Mo} Bulldogs in a non-conference ‘girls only’ away game, Jan. 13
On the boys’ side, the Trojans come off a crushing 46-40 loss to the Labette County Grizzlies, Jan. 7. Looking to bounce back from the loss, the Trojans ventured to Titan territory to face Columbus [4-2].
In the first half, the Titans dominated the Trojans attacking the glass, taking advantage of mismatches in the paint to go up 31-17 at halftime.
Following the first half, the Trojans came out with a different mindset trimming the deficit and tying the ballgame 40-40 headed into the fourth. Taking their first lead of the game early in the fourth, the Trojans were able to take advantage of the Titans turnovers with a major of the points coming from the transition game. Girard led by as much as four midway through the fourth but the Titans were able to take back the lead, 52-50with 1:04 remaining after a made layup and free throw make on a foul.
After a missed free throw from Columbus with 37 seconds remaining, junior Rigby Born drove to the basket making a layup to tie the game back up, 52-52. The Trojans fouled the Titans in the closing seconds giving the Titans a chance to score the go-ahead bucket. Columbus made one of the two free throws giving the Trojans a chance to win the game with 1.4 remaining. Girard then turned the ball over giving Columbus the 53-52 despite the Trojans outscoring the Titans 35-22 in the second half.
Stats unavailable post-game.
Subsequent to the Titans matchup, the Trojans [2-3] travel to Riverton Jan. 14 to face the Riverton Rams [5-1] in a conference duel.