Hunters power past Fredericktown
FREDERICKTOWN — The Ste. Genevieve Hunters established a powerful interior presence behind seniors Holley Fox and Tisha Meyer on Saturday afternoon, and secured a key 54-42 conference win at Fredericktown.
Focused execution helped the Hunters build an early lead that eventually reached 18 points. Ste. Genevieve (15-2) maintained a double-digit margin throughout the second half despite netting one field goal over the final 8:30.
Fox posted game highs with 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Meyer tallied 14 points with four steals for the Hunters, who overcame 19 turnovers while improving to 3-1 in the MAAA Large-School standings.
Ste. Genevieve scored several early baskets on second chances, including a pair of rebound putbacks from Fox. Megan Schenck provided the perimeter balance with a pair of first-quarter threes for a 20-10 advantage.
Fredericktown (8-8) relied mainly on mid-range scoring before halftime, getting consecutive jumpers from junior Lauren Henderson to remain within seven points midway through the second.
The Hunters regained momentum on another entry lob to Fox, and carried a 34-21 margin at intermission when Schenck calmly swished a 33-footer as time expired. A fast-break layup by Lindsey Burgert extended the lead to 50-32 after three quarters.
Leading scorer Kylie Oertel scored two transition baskets for the Lady Cats after receiving many of her first-half touches away from the basket, and finished with a team-high 15 points.
Fredericktown salvaged a positive final stanza behind a scrappy defense that kept Ste. Genevieve scoreless for nearly four minutes, but hampered its own comeback effort by finishing just 7-for-14 from the foul line.
Henderson tallied 11 points with eight rebounds, and Allison McDowell made five assists for the Lady Cats, who will bring an even 2-2 league record into Farmington on Monday.
Ste. Genevieve 20 14 16 4 – 54
Fredericktown 13 8 11 10 – 42
SCORING:
Ste. Genevieve – Fox 16, Meyer 14, Schenck 9, Burgert 6, Campbell 5, Rhodes 4. 3-point FG – Schenck 3.
Fredericktown – Oertel 15, Henderson 11, Laut 4, McDowell 4, Stevens 3, Ward 3, Moser 2. 3-point FG – Stevens.
