A three pointer at the buzzer was no good by Lusk was how Thursday’s ball game finished between the visiting Tigers and the hosts from Alliance St. Agnes. The Crusaders withstood the furious final moments and downed the guests 23 to 20 to improve to 5 and 2 on the year. A couple of late turnovers by the hosts gave Lusk a few opportunities in the closing seconds but a tying three pointer was off as the Crusaders survived the rally. The Academy got some super play from their three 8th grade starters. Reese Armstrong was the Lady Crusaders top scorer with 13 points. Adding 6 points was fellow 8th grader Aubree Shrewsbury who also had many key defensive plays for SA. Maslin Breen tallied 4 points and added to the win with many rebounds both on offense and defense. Lusk would win the late contest, downing the Academy 33 to 8. Alliance’s JV record now goes to 3 and 4. Kale Hulquist was the Crusaders top scorer with 6 points.
Six early points on three 2 point hoops by Armstrong helped Alliance grabbed an early advantage. A bucket by Shrewsbury made the score 8 to 5 in favor of the Lady Crusaders after one period of action. The visiting Tigers would then roar back in the second quarter. Lusk tallied 10 points in the period while holding SA to 7 points. Two point baskets by Breen and Shrewsbury plus a three by Armstrong tied the contest at 15 after 2 periods of play.
Both team’s defense were strong in the third. Alliance and Lusk were both held to just 4 points apiece as the battle continued to be tight. Buckets by Armstrong and Shrewsbury accounted for the Academy’s points. After three quarters of play, the match up was knotted at 19. Late hoops by Breen and Armstrong kept SA in the lead in the final minutes. Meanwhile, the Crusaders were solid of the defensive side and allowed only one Tiger free throw. Alliance withstood a three at the buzzer and went on to post the victory 23 20.
LUSK 5 10 4 1 20
SA 8 7 4 4 23
Scoring Armstrong 13 Shrewsbury 6 Breen 4
A full court press used by Lusk in the JV game was too much for the Crusaders to solve in the late game. The Tigers pressure defense limited the Academy to just 3 baskets as the guests recorded a 33 to 8 win. Lusk scored 10 first period points to gain the early momentum. As for Alliance, a 2 point goal by Hulquist in the opening 6 minutes was all the Lady Crusaders could muster. After one period of play, SA was down 10 to 2. Three Crusaders would get into the scorebook in the second. Free throws by Alexis Shelmadine and Delaney Jelinek plus another bucket by Hulquist helped the Academy stay close. Lusk would score another 10 points and take a 20 to 6 lead to half.
Points would be tough for Alliance in the third. Lusk continued their pressure defense as the Academy went scoreless in the quarter. The Tigers added to their lead with 9 more points in the period and after three quarters of play, the Crusaders trailed 29 to 6. In the finale, another score by Hulquist gave the Academy their first points on the half. But it would be SA’s lone tally. Final Lusk 33 Alliance 8
LUSK 10 10 9 4 33
SA 2 4 0 2 8
Scoring Hulquist 6 Shelmadine 1 Jeleink 1
St. Agnes ends its year with homes on Monday against Hemingford and on Saturday vs AMS. On Monday, December 16 the Academy goes to Morrill to participate in the Panhandle Conference tournament.