Solid defense was definitely on display Tuesday when the Alliance St. Agnes girl’s basketball played host to the Mustangs of Gordon/Rushville. The Lady Crusaders held the guests to just two baskets and easily defeated Gordon 34 to 6. With the victory St. Agnes improves to 3 and 1 on the season. Alliance was also victorious in the Junior Varsity matchup, downing the Mustangs 20 to 6. The J.V. squad now sees their record at 2 and 1.
In the varsity contest St. Agnes got off to a good start thanks to 4 points each by Hannah Benzel and Reese Armstrong. Meanwhile the defense by the Crusaders was strong, limiting Gordon to a single basket. After one St. Agnes led 8 to 2. The Crusader margin was increased with an outstanding second period. Gordon had just one point while the Crusaders tallied 16. Seven points by Armstrong was followed by 2 scores from Aubree Shrewsbury helped Alliance build a double digit lead. Benzel hit a three and a basket by Maslin Breen gave St. Agnes a lead of 24 to 3 at halftime.
The Mustangs were then held scoreless in the third as the Crusaders put the game away. Four more Benzel points led the charge. Shrewsbury added a bucket while Armstrong contributed a free throw. Heading to the final period the St. Agnes lead was 31 to 3. Both teams would score three points in the fourth with Alliance’s Kaitlyn Shannon scoring all three for the Crusaders. Final Alliance 34 Gordon/Rushville 6
GR 2 1 0 3 6
SA 8 16 7 3 34
Ending with double figures for Alliance were Armstrong who had 12 points while Benzel was good for 11. Shrewsbury finished with 6. Rounding out the scoring were Shannon with 3 and Breen with 2.
Despite a slow start the Alliance junior varsity team the followed with a solid performance. Amora Gonzalez had the only points in the opening period as Alliance and Gordon were tied at 2 after the first quarter. Four more points by Gonzalez and a score by Alliance’s Dawsyn Higgins keyed a run for St. Agnes in the second. Meanwhile the Crusader defense shut out the visitors. At half St. Agnes led 8 to 2.
Four Crusaders would get into the score book in the third. Four more Higgins points led the Alliance attack. Scoring 2 each were: Gonzalez, Peyton Baker, and Delaney Jelinek. The defense continue their nice play as the Gordon went scoreless. Alliance led 18 to 2 heading into the final period. A bucket by Higgins ended the Crusaders scoring as St. Agnes went on for the victory to 20 to 6.
GR 2 0 0 4 6
SA 2 6 10 2 20
Both Higgins and Gonzalez led Alliance with 8 points each while Jelinek and Baker ended with 2 apiece.