(St. Albert) Ahead of their regional final with 8th rated Exira-EHK, St. Albert coach Dick Wettengel described his team as being forged in steal from their rigorous Hawkeye Ten Conference schedule. That quality slate of competition proved beneficial for the Saintes in a 65-54 regional final win Wednesday in Harlan.
13-11 St. Albert truly threw records out the window during the postseason and put together a memorable four game win streak to advance to state for the first time in 20 years. They had lost 8/9 regular season games before tourney play started. However, seven of the team’s eleven losses are to opponents in Class 4A or 5A and they own victories over five different Class 3A teams including fellow state qualifier Red Oak.
It was a slow scoring start to the game as two unfamiliar foes worked through a feeling out process. Exira-EHK led 4-2, but a 2nd offensive rebound and put back from Allie Petry tied the game at 4-4. The Saintes scored nine of the final twelve points in the first quarter to lead 13-7 going into the 2nd.
St. Albert got a big first half from Petry with 14 of her game high 24 before the break and Luaren Williams scored 8 of her 14 points in the first two quarters. An Exira-EHK 3-pointer cut the St. Albert lead to 13-12, but a 9-0 stretch built the Saintes edge to double figures. They eventually settled on a 26-19 halftime lead after Exira-EHK scored the final four points of the 2nd quarter. Tatum Grubbs had 11 of her team high 16 in the first half to help keep Exira-EHK in striking distance.
St. Albert led by 6-10 points for most of the 3rd quarter and got strong play from guards Jordyn Blaha and Makenna Shepard to maintain their lead. Blaha was especially effective at dribbling through Exira-EHK’s press in the 2nd half and set up teammates with easy buckets inside. Blaha did her fair share of scoring it as well with 15 of her 17 points coming in the 2nd half.
Exira-EHK found a little bit of rhythm in the 4th quarter to make things interesting. After falling behind by a dozen early in the final frame the Spartans battled back to get within five. St. Albert entered the game as a 47.3% free-throw shooting group, but made five straight during a key stretch in the 4th. Blaha sank 4/6 at the line. Exira-EHK had it down to a 56-51 deficit heading into crunch time, but St. Albert’s ball handling ability denied the Spartans of any huge momentum swings.
Petry’s athleticism made her a difference maker and she led all scorers with 24. Petry was 3/28 from 3-point range going into Wednesday’s action, but canned two long balls on the night. Blaha and Williams joined her in double figures with 17 and 12, respectively. Scoring 6 each were Shepard and Veronica Svajgl. Exira-EHK’s Tatum Grubbs scored 16 points, but fouled out early in the 4th. Quinn Grubbs scored 12 before fouling out late in the 4th. The rest of the Spartan scoring included Macy Emgarten with 9, Mollie Rasmussen 6, Ellie Schultes and Shay Burmeister 3, and Kamryn Waymire 1. The Spartans end their year at 21-2.
