Crawford and St. Agnes met for a pair of games Thursday in Crawford. Using a big first period, it was the visiting Crusaders taking down the Rams 46 to 12 for their second win on the year. Alliance also won the 2 quarter JV contest, downing the hosts 3 to 0. The Academy scored the game’s first 14 points and were ahead 16 to 1 after the first period in the varsity opener. SA would score 11 points each in the second and third quarters to build a big lead. Ten Crusaders got into the scoring column, led by Mason Conyers who tallied 13 points. Alliance’s Jaden Estevane-Acosta scored all three of the guests points in second game of the evening.
Eight early scores by Conyers helped Alliance take control. The Academy also got was period baskets by Chief Cody and Tee Johnson to surge ahead 12 to 0. The first concluded with Alliance getting points by Declan Kirchner and Liam Pena while a free throw by the Rams accounted for their lone tally. After one, SA was up 16 to 1.
Alliance’s defense again was stout in the second as the hosts would score just 2 points. Tatum Devlin started the scoring for the Academy with a deuce. It was followed by a bucket by Conyers, another Devlin two, and three points by Johnson. Later in the second with SA out in front 25 to 3, the Crusaders got 2 free throws by Kirchner to end the half. Alliance was ahead 27 to 3 at halftime.
Quarter 3 began with a free throw by the Rams and another hoop by Conyers. Following a deuce by the hosts, the Academy came back strong with 9 consecutive tallies. Baskets by Emerson Trumble, Cody, Pena, and Estevane-Acosta along with a Conyers free throws made the score Alliance 38 Crawford 6 heading to the fourth.
St. Agnes finished the battle by outscoring the hosts 8 to 6 in the last period. Four points by Ashton Weingart led the offense while also getting tallies for the Academy were Trumble and Tristin Hansen.
Final Crusaders 46 Rams 12
SA 16 11 11 8 46
CRAW 1 2 3 6 12
Scoring for the Academy Cody 4 Conyers 13 Devlin 4 Trumble 4
Johnson 5 Weingart 4 Kirchner 4 Pena 4 Hansen 2 Estevane-Acosta 2
In the nightcap, SA was again victorious. The matchup was a 2 period tilt which was tied at 0 after the first. Estevane-Acosta ended the scoring drought in the second with a hoop. His free throw later in the period make it 3 to 0. Crawford had a couple of chances for a tie but were denied.
Final Crusaders 3 Rams 0
SA 0 3 3
Craw 0 0 0
Scoring for Alliance Estevane-Acosta 3
Scottsbluff comes to town on Saturday