On Saturday, the future of Alliance Girl’s Basketball was on display when the Alliance St. Agnes Academy hosted the Lady Bulldogs of Alliance Middle School. Both games were very similar with both schools getting a win. In the opener, it was the Academy varsity team pulling away late and posting a 27 to 19 victory over AMS’s eighth grade squad. The second game of the morning featured the SA junior varsity taking on the seventh graders from AMS. This time it was the Lady Bulldogs making plays down the stretch and getting the W, 21 to 15. With the win in the varsity matchup, the Academy improves to 7 and 2 on the year while the JV club ends their year at 4 and 5.
Action began in the varsity game with the Bulldogs gaining the early advantage. Points in the opening period by Eden Foster, Nyomi Gomez, and Mila Little Hoop-Catches helped the visitors take a 9 to 7 lead after the first 6 minutes. Scoring for the Crusaders were Reese Armstrong who tallied 5 and Maslin Breen. The second quarter saw Armstrong score all 8 points for the Academy while accounting tallies for AMS were Foster and Little Hoop Catches. At half, the game was tied at 15.
Points were hard to come by in the third. A bucket by Little Hoop Catches was the lone bucket for either side and the contest went to the final period with the Lady Bulldogs up 17 to 15. In the fourth, it was the Crusaders making the final push. Six big points by SA’s Penn Vergil helped the Academy in the last 6 minutes in getting the win. Meanwhile, AMS was held to just another bucket by Little Hoop Catches as the Crusaders garnered the victory. A hoop by Armstrong plus free throws by Armstrong and Breen iced the game away. Final SA 27 AMS 19
AMS 9 6 2 2 19
SA 7 8 0 12 27
Scoring St. Agnes Armstrong 18 Vergil 6 Breen 3
Alliance Middle Little Hoop Catches 13 Foster 4 Gomez 2
In the nightcap, it was the Bulldogs outscoring the Academy 4 to 3 in the first period thanks to 4 scores by AMS’s Brooklyn Gibson. Tallies for the Crusaders came from a hoop by Natalie Mullen and a free throw by Delaney Jelinek. In the second period, the Crusaders put 6 points into the scoring column on baskets by Mullen, Jelinek, and Kale Hulquist. Scoring for AMS were Gibson and a trey by T’Anna Taylor. The teams went to half time tied at 9 all. Play remained tight in the third. Two Jelinek free throws by Jelinek along with hoops by Mullen and Alexis Shelmadine kept St. Agnes in striking distance. The Middle School got period #3 points by Taylor, Oaklynn Red Nest, and Nuvaya Poor Bear to stay ahead. After three quarters of action, AMS led 16 to 15. Bulldog defense was especially strong in the final period as the Academy failed to score. Three free throws by Taylor and a bucket by Gibson paved the way for the Bulldog win 21 to 15.
AMS 4 5 7 5 21
SA 3 6 6 0 15
Scoring St. Agnes Mullen 6 Jelinek 5 Hulquist 2 Shelmadine 2
AMS Taylor 9 Gibson 8 Red Nest 2 Poor Bear 2
Both schools end their year this week with tournaments.
(Photos by Ivy Shelmadine)
