Indians sweep Lancers

By: Aaron Pyle

         In the second/third matchup of the St. Paul ‘Early Season Tournament,’ the Indians battled against Southeast Lancers in a TRL double-header.

For the girls, the Lady Indians dominated once again from the opening tip starting the game out on a 10-0 run before the Lancers’ first basket. The relentless full-court pressure of the Lady Indians had the Lancers struggling to find an answer offensively. A majority of the points for both teams came at the free-throw line as more there were more than 20 fouls in the first half alone.

Holding Southeast to just four points in the first half, the Lady Indians maintained a comfortable lead until the final buzzer as they went on to win their third consecutive game, 51-16.

St. Paul [3-0] had multiple players score double digits; senior Emily Hutcherson [13], senior Katie Coomes [11] and sophomore Claire Bradshaw [10].

Southeast junior Railey Robertson led the Lancers in scoring Thursday night finishing with eight points.

On the boys’ side, the Lancers met with a St. Paul team picked #1 in the preseason polls.

Defense reigned supreme in the first quarter as baskets came at a premium for each side with both sides combining for 19 points total. Senior Easton Dent was forced to sit the second half of the first and the first half of the second quarter due to foul trouble. Southeast senior Hayden Wilson provided a bulk of the offense in the first half for the Lancers scoring seven in the second quarter alone.

At the half, the Lancers held their largest lead of the game as the Indians trailed 28-19.

The Lancers maintained their double-digit lead headed into the fourth quarter, 43-33.

With the help of seniors Adam Albertini and Kaleb Lemmons, the Indians gained within reach of the Lancers taking advantage of second-chance opportunities and transition baskets off turnovers.

The Indians took their first lead of the game with five minutes remaining as the Lancers didn’t make a basket until the three-minute mark. Both teams exchanged baskets throughout the final part of the fourth. Southeast senior Reece Jacobs gave the Lancers the lead with 15 seconds remaining on a floater. Lemmons responded following the make with a made lay-up on a foul with an attempt to take the lead with seven seconds remaining. Lemmons drained the three and the Lancers turned the ball over on the ensuing possession as the Indians [2-1] narrowly escaped 55-54.

St. Paul is set to play on the final day of the ‘Early Season Tournament’ tomorrow [Dec. 13] the Indians face Columbus with girls tipping off at 7:00 p.m. as the boys follow after.