News
»Lady Warriors rebound, top St. Francis in home opener
Posted Local at Dec 15, 2010
Warriors Win, Warriors Win
By Tim Huether
After a rugged four point loss to Todd County in Mission to open the girls high school basketball season Dec. 7, Bennett County rebounded to dominate St. Francis two days later on their home floor to even their record at 1-1.
As season openers usually go, it was a bit sloppy on both teams part, and at times, it made one wonder if the refs were going to start throwing yellow flags for the slightly rough and tumble play. Both teams struggled but Todd County made fewer mistakes when it counted and walked off with a 42-39 win.
Bennett County started off with a pair of set plays that found a cutting Abbie Alexander for a pair of easy layups for her, and a four point Warrior lead.
Todd County answered back and took the lead on a three by Lane Halligan and a steal and layup by Selina Big Crow.
The lead changed hands five times in a low scoring first quarter and Big Crow’s shot with three seconds in the stanza put the Falcons up 9-8.
Laura Hodson put Bennett County back on top with her shot in the lane, but Bennett County turned the ball over on numerous occasions and Todd County took advantage with a 9-0 run and an 18-10 lead.
Following a Warrior time out, Bennett County settled down and out-scored the Falcons 6-1 the rest of the way in the first half making it a 19-16 lead for the home team.
Samantha Spotted Tail sparked Todd County in the third quarter with four quick points and the Falcons went up 26-18, but Bennett County turned up the heat on the defensive end and scored eight straight to tie the game at 26 with Harriet Standing Soldier and Abbie Alexander knocking down three pointers and Megan Slattery and Standing Soldier making one free throw each.
Halligan took the ball to the hoop strong and broke the tie with her field goal, the last of the third quarter, spotting Todd County a 28-26 lead at the buzzer.
The Falcons went up by eight again with Halligan doing most of the damage, scoring six straight Falcon points by attacking the basket.
Alexander scored four straight for Bennett County to make it a one possession game at 38-35, but the Warriors could not close the gap. The Warriors had one final shot to tie the game, trailing 42-39, but had the ball stolen on the inbound pass with 4.6 seconds to play.
Spotted Tail was fouled and made one of two free throws for the final score of 43-39.
Harriet Standing Soldier led the Bennett County offense with 14 points, followed by Abbie Alexander with 12, Laura Hodson 4, Brooke Bair 4, Rayel Livermont 2, Megan Slattery 1 and Tania Risse 1.
Todd County was led by Lane Halligan’s 17 points. Sam Spotted Tail chipped in 8, Trinity Edwards 6, Selina Big Crow 4, Kelsey Sharkey 4 and Whitney Ballinger 3.
Bennett County won the JV game, 30-25 with Taryn Lessert pouring in 16 points and Megan Slattery 10. Tania Risse added 5, Bobbi Standing Soldier 4, Rayel Livermont 3 and Lindsay Johnson 2.
Todd County was led by Sara Fielder’s 8 points, Samantha Fast Horse 6, Kelsey Sharkey 4, Trinity Edwards 3, Caitlin Jansen 2 and Gabby Murray 2.
Coach Travis Thompson said it was a typical first game of the season and assured the girls will respond and play much better. Thompson said it’s early and they now have a better idea of what they need to work on.
On Thursday night, his girls did play better, much better, and handled the St. Francis Warriors, winning 62-40.
The game was over in the first quarter with Bennett County coming out on fire. With the host Warriors leading 6-2 on a three pointer by Brooke Bair and a field goal and free throw by Laura Hodson, they went on a 17-0 run, taking a 23-2 lead.
St. Francis Kristen Brave canned a three pointer with nine seconds to play in the first quarter to make it 23-5 heading to the second.
Bennett County knocked down four three pointers in the run, a pair each from Bair and Harriet Standing Soldier. Hodson added five points in the quarter.
St. Francis found their range a bit in the second quarter and put up one more point than Bennett County, making it a 36-19 score at the break.
St. Francis used an 8-0 run to make it a bit more interesting aided by back to back three pointers by Kristen Brave and Miranda Romero.
Abbie Alexander and Standing Soldier kept pace with back to back three pointers of their own.
In the third quarter, Bennett County extended the lead to 25 before settling for a 53-30 lead after three quarters.
Bennett County maintained the lead to the end, winning 62-40.
Three Bennett County players hit double figures in scoring, with Harriet Standing Soldier at 13, Laura Hodson 12 and Brooke Bair 11. Abbie Alexander added 9, Tania Risse 6, Rayel Livermont 5, Rebecca Vander May 4 and Megan Slattery 2. Senior Kaitlyn Rayhill remains sidelined with an injury and is out for about two more weeks.
St. Francis was led by Kristen Brave’s game high 15 points. Miranda Romero tallied 8, Val Boltz 5, Clarene White Lance 3, Philomene Boneshirt 3, Sam Two Strike 2, Cera Walking Eagle 2, and Shanice Kills Plenty 2.
In the B game, Bennett County won 32-25, led by Tania Risse with 8 points, Rayel Livermont 6, Taryn Lessert 6, Megan Slattery 5, Lindsay Johnson 4, Bobbi Standing Soldier 3.
For St. Francis, Halana Quick Bear scored 11, Mandi Arcoren 5, Darcie Kills In Water 3, Chey Brushbreaker 3, Shanice Kills Plenty 2, Iggi White 1.
Bennett County hosts Gordon-Rusville Dec. 17 in a boys and girls double header. The girls B game begins following the girls Jr. High game.
St. Francis is playing at the LNI in Rapid City Dec. 15-18.