The 2023 basketball season started for the Alliance St. Agnes girl’s basketball team on Tuesday with road games in Harrison against the Warriors. St. Agnes downed Sioux County in both matches, winning the varsity game 54 to 6 and the B game 26 to 8. With the wins, the Crusaders start the year with 1 and 0 record.
In the varsity game St. Agnes raced to an early double figure lead and were never threaten. Four points by Alliance’s Reese Armstrong, Kaitlyn Shannon, and Hannah Benzel help the Crusaders surge ahead in the opening period. After quarter one St. Agnes led 14 to 4. It was more the same in the second as the Crusaders put 18 points on the score board while shutting out the Warriors. More points by Armstrong, Shannon, and Benzel gave Alliance a comfortable lead. Other Crusaders who scored in the opening half were Amora Gonzalez and Maslin Breen. At half St. Agnes led 32 to 4.
Alliance’s defense remained stout in the third as the Crusaders would shut out the Warriors again. Meanwhile St. Agnes’ offense continued to shine thanks to 4 points each by Shannon and Benzel. Heading to the final period Alliance was up 44 to 4. Four more by Shannon and baskets by Gonzalez and Peyton Baker conclude the scoring in the last period as the Crusaders rolled to victory 54 to 6.
SA 14 18 12 10 54
SC 4 0 0 2 6
Scoring for the Crusaders were Shannon who finished with 16 points while Armstrong and Benzel added 14 apiece. Breen and Gonzalez had 4 each while Baker netted 2.
St. Agnes also won the B game in the contest on the night. First period points by Baker and Gonzalez got the Crusaders off to a solid start. After the first quarter St. Agnes was up 8 to 2. In the second the Crusaders put 8 more points on the scoreboard while holding the Warriors to 0 points. Scoring for Alliance in the second was Gonzalez, Audrey Dudden, and Delaney Jelinek. At half St. Agnes held a 16 to 2 advantage. Four Baker points while another score by Gonzalez gave the Crusaders more cushion in the third. Going to the final period the Alliance lead grew to 22 to 4. Both teams would 4 apiece in the final six minutes. Alliance’s received baskets from Aubree Shrewsbury and Baker and go on for the 26 to 8 win.
SA 8 8 6 4 26
SC 2 0 2 4 8
Five Crusaders found the scoring column led by Baker who had 10 points. Gonzalez tallied 8 while Dudden added 4. Rounding out the scoring with 2 each were Jelinek and Shrewsbury.