On Thursday the Alliance St. Agnes girl’s basketball team made the long trip to Lusk to tangle with the Tigers. The Crusaders fought hard but fell in both contests. In the varsity game Lusk outscored Alliance 18 to 10 in the final quarter and went on for a 34 to 26 win. The second game saw the Tigers gave an early lead and outlast St. Agnes 19 to 17. Both the Crusader teams now see their record drop to 1 and 1 on the year. On Saturday S.A. got back to the winning ways, downing Morrill 28 to 12.
In the varsity action Thursday in Lusk play was close in the opening half. Points by Kaitlyn Shannon and Reese Armstrong helped Alliance tied the score by 6 all after the first period. Two more baskets by Armstrong and 3 free throws by Aubree Shrewsbury in the second gave Alliance the lead at halftime 13 to 11. Another score by Armstrong plus a free throw by Shannon were the Alliance points in third as the teams headed to the final stanza with the score tied at 16. Eight final period points by Armstrong and a bucket by Shrewsbury gave Alliance a chance in the moments but Lusk pulled away by scoring 18 fourth quarter points. Final Lusk 34 St. Agnes 26
SA 6 7 3 10 26
Lusk 6 5 5 18 34
Three Crusaders found the scoring column, paced by Armstrong who netted 18. Rounding out the scoring was Shrewsbury who had 5 and Shannon who had 3.
The B game saw Lusk shut out the Crusaders in the opening period and snare a 3 to 0 lead. In the second the Tigers and the Crusaders each scored 6 points each. Alliance received points in the second quarter from Dawsyn Higgins and Peyton Baker. At half St. Agnes was down 9 to 6. Alliance went cold in the third period, scoring only on a free throw by Shrewsbury. Heading the final six minutes the Tigers held a 16 to 7 lead. Fourth quarter points by Shrewsbury-6- and Armstrong-4- sliced the Tiger margin but it was not enough. Final Lusk 19 St Agnes 17
SA 0 6 1 10 17
Lusk 3 6 7 3 19
Scoring for Alliance were Shrewsbury who ended with 7 while Armstrong and Higgins added 4 each and Baker with 2.
On Saturday St. Agnes hosted Morrill. Due lack of plays by Morrill it was a one game matchup. Alliance’s defense was super strong throughout the game as the Lions were held to just 5 first half point and 12 total. Meanwhile the Crusader offense scored 20 points in the opening half as Alliance went on the 28 to 12 win. With the victory S.A. improved to 2 and 1 on the season.
Four Crusaders had 2 points each in the opening period. Points from Hannah Benzel, Maslin Breen, Armstrong and Shrewsbury made the score 8 to 5 in favor of the Crusaders after one period of play. The visiting Lions were then shut out in period 2 while Alliance got 4 buckets by Armstrong and points by Benzel and Shrewsbury. At half Alliance led 20 to 5.
Both defenses were strong in the third. Morrill was held to two third quarter points while had four with baskets by Armstrong and Shrewsbury. Going to the fourth the Crusaders lead stood at 24 to 7. Morrill would outscore St. Agnes 5 to 4 in finale but it wasn’t enough. More points by Armstrong and Benzel ended the match with Alliance winning 28 to12.
MOR 5 0 2 5 12
SA 8 12 4 4 28
Armstrong topped St. Agnes with 14 points while Benzel and Shrewsbury added 6 each. Rounding out the scoring was Breen who ended with 2.