Raiders control Indians

By: Aaron Pyle 

            Following a dominant 52-21 victory over Northeast, Jan. 31, the Lady Indians of St. Paul traveled to Raider territory Feb. 6 to face Frontenac in a non-conference contest. Last season when the two teams met Frontenac handled St. Paul 46-33. 

            Opening the game, the two teams focused their attack offensively in the paint. After a hot start for the Lady Indians, St. Paul began to grow cold with the Raiders taking the lead slowly pulling away near the end of the first. Senior Emily Hutcherson and sophomore Claire Bradshaw would score all seven of the Lady Indians’ first-quarter points. 

            The two teams battled it out in the second quarter trading runs. Frontenac’s zone defense proved to be troublesome for the Lady Indians throughout the second as the Raiders forced turnovers which led to transition baskets. Bradshaw remained hot from the perimeter in the second, cutting the Frontenac gap. At halftime, Frontenac led St. Paul 26-21. 

            In the third, the Lady Indians kicked it up a notch defensively as well as offensively holding the Raiders scoreless for the entire third quarter. Going on a 10-0 run, the Lady Indians led 31-26 heading into the final quarter.    

            The Lady Indians began to go cold in the fourth with the Raiders going on a 5-0 run tying the game up then eventually taking the lead off turnovers from St. Paul. Frontenac would push the lead to as much as nine as the Lady Indians struggled to get a rhythm going offensively. Frontenac (12-2) prevailed over St. Paul (12-4) 46-40.  

            Bradshaw led the Lady Indians in scoring Thursday night as the sophomore finished the game with 12 points. Seniors Hutcherson and Taylor Wiatrak made key efforts as well despite the loss finishing with six points, respectively. 

            For the boys, the team came off a narrow 64-61 victory in their previous matchup, Jan. 31, against the Northeast Vikings. After the victory, the Indians ventured to Frontenac to face the Raiders in a non-conference battle. 

            The Indians battled back and forth throughout the first quarter with the Raiders as each team made it an emphasis to attack in the paint. Seniors Adam Albertini and Chandler Bradshaw gave the Indians a boost offensively in the first scoring ten of the teams’ 14 points. 

            In the second, the Raiders kicked it in offensively as well as defensively with the Indians struggling to keep up. Turnovers halted the Indians’ efforts throughout the second quarter as the Raiders would go on a 14-4 run to push the lead to double-digits. At halftime, the Indians trailed 28-18. 

            From there, the Raiders continued to remain hot offensively while the Indians went cold. Frontenac stretched their lead out even further in the second half as the Raiders (11-3) went on to win 57-40 over the Indians (10-6). 

            Albertini led the Indians in scoring finishing the game with 11 points. Senior Kaleb Lemmons just missed the double-digit mark ending the night scoring nine points. 

            For St. Paul, their basketball teams will go back to Billy Fager Fieldhouse for a conference clash against Jayhawk-Linn, Feb. 11.