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Gael girls fall to Algona

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Abbey Holmes of Algona shoots around St. Edmond Cambrie McBride on Thursday

The fifth-ranked (Class 3A) Algona girls came out firing on all cylinders here Thursday night in a rescheduled North Central Conference contest vs. St. Edmond.

Aliyah Buscher scored 19 points, Abbey Holmes added 17 and the Bulldogs won their 10th consecutive game, 73-20.

Inclement weather forced the contest to be delayed from Tuesday night. The Gaels (2-13 overall, 1-8 in NCC) were still without the services of five players who were suspended for violating team rules.

Erin Flattery led SEHS with 12 points, five rebounds and two steals, with Leah Neverman adding four points and four rebounds.

Algona (15-1, 9-1) head coach Michael Ford understood the situation presented to his team and tried to focus in on continuing to improve as a collective unit.

“It’s a tough situation but you have to respect that in the long run,” Ford said. “We told the girls to get out and play as hard as you can for the time you are on the court.

“We wanted to have all five executing the right play, and I thought we had that for the most part.”

The Bulldogs shot 17 of 20 from the field in the opening half, jumping out to a 45-10 lead. Ashlin Young provided the exclamation point to the first 16 minutes by draining a buzzer-beater from half-court.

“Algona is a very good team, which we knew going in,” SEHS head coach Steve Neuberger said. “I appreciate Coach Ford for playing the game how he did. I thought our girls did everything they could out there and I know they will learn from this.”

Nicole Smidt, Molly McCauley, Kate Beenken, Jackie Reding and Young all scored at least five points for Algona, which finished the game hitting seven 3-pointers and shooting 63 percent from the field.

“We focused on our transition game and getting out and running,” Ford said. “I was proud of the girls for the way they shared the basketball and for the way they played defense.”

Both teams return to action Friday night with the Bulldogs playing their second of four straight on the road at No. 8 (Class 3A) Iowa Falls-Alden. Algona also travels to fourth-ranked Clear Lake on Tuesday.

St. Edmond, meanwhile, welcomes the Lions.

Postseason assignments were also announced on Thursday. Algona will take on OA-BCIG in a 3A, Region 1 opener, with St. Edmond hosting Belmond-Klemme in a 2A, Region 2 contest.

ALGONA 73, ST. EDMOND 20

Algona — Baylyn Johnson 0-2 0-0 0, Abbey Holmes 7-9 3-3 17, Aliyah Buscher 7-8 3-3 19, Nicole Smidt 2-2 1-1 5, Molly McCauley 2-2 1-2 6, Kam Etherington 1-3 0-0 2, Kate Beenken 3-6 0-0 6, Ari Prothman 0-2 2-2 2, Jackie Reding 2-4 3-4 7, Ashlin Young 2-3 1-2 6. Totals: 26-41 14-17 70.

St. Edmond — Jaedyn Condon 0-1 0-0 0, Cambrie McBride 0-7 2-2 2, Emma Neverman 0-4 0-0 0, Erin Flattery 5-9 2-2 12, Leah Neverman 2-6 0-0 4, Aubrey Bemrich 1-2 0-0 2, Leah Johnson 0-2 0-0 0, Kelli Kersten 0-3 0-0 0, Avery Galles 0-1 0-0 0, Lizzie Gailey 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 8-35 4-4 20.

Quarter scores: Algona led 24-4, 45-10, 63-16. Three-point goals: Algona 7-13 (Holmes 3, Buscher 2, McCauley 1, Young 1), St. Edmond 0-10. Rebounds: Algona 20, St. Edmond 20. Steals: Algona 15, St. Edmond 2. Blocked shots: Algona 2, St. Edmond 1. Turnovers: Algona 11, St. Edmond 24. Fouls: Algona 7, St. Edmond 12.

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