To say the West Central Trojan girls had a tough seven days from January 8th to 15th would be an understatement. The Trojans played five games in those seven days all against ranked opponents. After getting a wins over #4 White River on January 8th and #5 Dakota Valley on January 11th, West Central had three straight days of games.
West Central 61, Crofton, NE 59
The Trojans hosted Crofton, NE on Thursday, January 13th. Crofton was ranked #4 Class C-2 in the latest Nebraska polls. Most of the game was back and forth. The Trojans held a 21-19 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Crofton took a one point lead into the locker room at halftime, 39-38. Crofton built one of the bigger leads of the night, seven points, by the end of the third quarter. Crofton led 51-44 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Trojans tied the game 53-53 after an Addy Kramer three pointer with 5:40 to play. The Trojans held a 59-56 lead after Rylee Haldeman made shot in the lane with 1:30 to go. Crofton tied the game with a three-pointer twenty seconds later. Kramer made a driving layup with :51 to play to give the Trojans a 61-59 lead. Each team had a possession that failed to score. Crofton had the ball with :6.5 on the clock. As they dribbled up the court, Haldeman made steal to seal the victory.
Tabor Teel had 22 points, four rebounds, and three steals. Kramer finished with 19 points and six rebounds. Haldeman added 10 points, seven assists, and three steals.
West Central 64, St Thomas More 42
The Trojans then hosted the #2 ranked St Thomas More Cavaliers on Friday, January 14th. West Central shot the lights out of the gym. They finished 51% (19-37) from the field, 58% (14-24) from three-point area, and 75% (12-16) from the free-throw line.
West Central started the game on fire building an 18-10 lead after the first quarter. They continued to build on that lead all game long. The Trojans led 39-19 at halftime and 62-31 at the end of the third quarter.
Haldeman had 24 points, six assists, three steals, and two rebounds. Kramer had 14 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Josslin Jarding finished with nine points. Cambell Fischer added six points, three rebounds, and two steals.
Wagner 75, West Central 47
The long week ended at the Hanson Classic against the Wagner Red Raiders on Saturday, January 15th. The Trojans had a four-point lead with 4:42 in the first quarter, but the lead wouldn’t last long for West Central. Wagner finished the quarter with a 16-14 lead and then almost put the game away in the second quarter. The Red Raiders outscored the Trojans 23-7 for a 39-21 halftime lead. Both teams scored 15 points in the third quarter, and Wagner lead 54-36 heading into the final quarter. The Red Raiders outscored West Central 21-11 in the final quarter.
The Trojans shot just 29% (17-59) in the game, 31% (8-26) from three-point area, and 46% (5-11) from the free-throw line. Wagner was 62% (29-47) from the field, 46% (6-13) from three-point area, and 55% (11-20) from the free-throw line.
Teel finished with 13 points, seven rebounds, and two steals. Haldeman had eight points, six assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Jarding added six points, three rebounds, and two steals. Fischer also had six points. Kramer and Tessa VanOverbeke both had five points each.
West Central (10-1) will host the Dell Rapids Quarriers on Tuesday, January 18th.