Inman shoots Hunters past rival Valle Catholic

STE. GENEVIEVE — Junior guard Monica Inman scored a game-high 22 points, and sank the first of two free throws with 4.4 seconds remaining as Ste. Genevieve edged neighboring Valle Catholic 42-41 on Wednesday night.

Inman followed her own missed shot for a short jumper with 1:47 remaining, and gave the Hunters (5-3) their initial lead at 40-38. The contest featured four ties before being decided at the charity stripe.

Gretchen Koller paced the Lady Warriors (3-4) with 19 points. The senior forward produced a 41-41 deadlock with a short leaner, but could not convert at the line with 11 seconds left after emerging with a steal.

Valle Catholic restored a 37-31 lead on a deep jumper from Colleen Brake in the fourth quarter, but was ultimately unable to overcome 30 turnovers.

Inman answered with a jumper, then knocked down her third 3-pointer on the ensuing Ste. Genevieve possession.

Two inside baskets from Mackenzie Wipfler helped the Lady Warriors close the first quarter, and Lacie Luttrell hit a mid-range shot to cap an opening 12-5 run early in the second.

Ste. Genevieve trailed 24-18 in the third quarter before finding Inman open on two key inbounds passes. Her second triple evened the score at 27-27.

Koller made two baskets and assisted Luttrell as Valle responded with a 6-0 spurt to begin the final stanza.

Katie Palmer added seven points for the Hunters, who notched their second consecutive 1-point victory.

Brake tallied eight points for Valle, which forged a much tougher rematch than its 64-45 setback to Ste. Genevieve in November.