Prep basketball: Potosi Girls Have Valle’s Number Again
Valle Catholic’s Madelyn Griffard (14) shoots over the defense of Potosi’s Kaydence Gibson during Friday’s fifth-place semifinal game at Bob Sechrest Field House in Park Hills. (PHOTO BY ERIC VICCARO/Herald staff)
By ERIC VICCARO
eviccaro@stegenherald.com
PARK HILLS — When Valle Catholic’s Mia Weiler sank a 3-pointer at the 2:58 mark of the fourth quarter, the Warriors drew even with Potosi at 48-all.
Valle Catholic had caught Potosi.
However, Potosi’s Carley Hampton answered with a 3-pointer of her own and the Trojans finished the game on an 11-4 run in a fifth-place semifinal at the Mineral Area Activities Association tournament on Friday at Bob Sechrest Field House.
“Our coaching staff was anxious to play Potosi again,” Valle Catholic head coach Brian Bauman said.
See, the Trojans nipped the Warriors in overtime, 44-43, during a regular-season game back on Dec. 16. Valle Catholic had the lead in that game, until Potosi went ahead in the final minute.
“Our girls handled their pressure well the first game,” Bauman noted. “But, this time, they got to us.
“Despite struggling protecting the ball all game, we began chipping away and before long our girls had hope again,” Bauman continued. “For me, it was quite an accomplishment to see our resiliency.”
Valle Catholic (14-7) ultimately placed where it was seeded for the MAAA Tournament, sixth spot. It’s a matter of playing cleaner, paraphrasing Bauman.
The tournament served the Warriors well, giving them experience against Park Hills Central and Potosi — two teams that run effective full-court traps and presses.
Weiler paced four different Valle Catholic girls in double-digit points with 13, including two 3-pointers and four free throws.
Senior Sam Loida added 11 points, including 7-of-8 from the free-throw line. Sophomore Emma Christine and freshman Madelyn Griffard added 10 points each.
Like the first game in December, the Trojans and Warriors played a physical contest — featuring 38 fouls, 32 free throws made and 63 free throws attempts among the eye-popping numbers.
Valle Catholic was down 13-9 at the end of one quarter, and six points (24-18) at intermission.
Kalie Thompson gave Potosi its largest lead of the game at 46-33 with 48.2 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
That’s when Valle Catholic began chipping away.
But, in the end, the Warriors reached the crest of comeback only to slip and fall by three possessions.
Ade Weiler posted team-bests with five assists and three steals; she also had the Warriors’ lone blocked shot. Ella Bertram grabbed seven rebounds, Ade Weiler six and Mia Weiler five to round out the statistics.
Valle Catholic has three regular season games remaining, St. Pius, Jefferson R-7 and Fredericktown.
DISTRICT TOURNAMENT
The Warriors have drawn the second seed for the forthcoming Class 2 District 4 Tournament, playing Valley Caledonia (1-17) at Crystal City High School. Tip off is Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
(Editor’s Note: For the complete story and statistics, subscribe to either the print or electronic editions of the Ste. Genevieve Herald. Subscribe: 1-573-883-2222.)
