-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Halee Hauswirth of Pocahontas Area shoots over St. Edmond on Thursday

The Pocahontas Area girls didn’t panic when they lost the final two games before Christmas break and the first two of the new year, which left them with a 4-6 overall record at the time.

The Indians have righted the ship and then some over the last two weeks, reeling off seven consecutive victories. They kept the ball rolling on Thursday with a 69-33 victory over St. Edmond in the Gael gym.

Senior Jenna Vonnahme scored 24 points for PAC (11-6 overall), which is on the brink of securing its fifth straight winning season. The Indians exploded out of the gates last night, recording the game’s first 25 points with a swarming full-court press.

“We’ve done a nice job of finding a rhythm and making progress after that stretch where we struggled a little,” Pocahontas Area co-head coach Robert Maske said. “We came out and set the tone early (Thursday), and after St. Edmond made some nice adjustments (in the second quarter), we kind of reset and had a strong start (to the third quarter — an 11-0 run).

“We’re sitting at 8-2 in the (Twin Lakes Conference) with one game left. With (the regional opener) less than two weeks away, I think we’re getting to where we need to be. The girls are working hard and playing well together.”

The Gaels (4-14) shook off the slow start and settled down after a rocky opening period. A three-pointer from freshman Abby Huss finally got St. Edmond on the board in the final minute of the first quarter, and the team rode that momentum all the way into the locker room.

“We tried to prepare for their press in practice, but you can’t really simulate it when you see one as effective as theirs,” SEHS head coach CJ Tracy admitted. “It took us a while — and a few timeouts — to adjust. We were throwing the ball around way too much in that first quarter, but the kids kept fighting after that.

“We play well in spurts, but are still searching for that level of consistency. We’ve won four games so far, but I know they want more. So it’s still a work in progress.”

Sophomore Anna Lursen had eight of her team-high 11 points in the second half to lead St. Edmond. Freshman Abby Huss knocked down a pair of three-point baskets in the first half and chipped in seven total.

Junior Madison Vial added 11 points for PAC in the victory, with sophomore Khloe Mefferd contributing nine in the fourth quarter alone.

Tracy’s squad was given its postseason assignment on Wednesday, as the Gaels will head to Glidden-Ralston (4-14) next Thursday in a 1A regional opener. After contests against West Bend-Mallard, Algona and Manson Northwest Webster, Pocahontas Area tips off 2A regional action at home against Emmetsburg (12-8) on Feb. 13.

St. Edmond welcomes Algona to the Gael gym on Friday, followed by a road/home twinbill with Hampton-Dumont on Monday and Tuesday to finish the regular season.

POCAHONTAS AREA 69, ST. EDMOND 33

Pocahontas Area — Jenna Vonnahme 8-15 7-7 24, Madison Vial 4-11 1-4 11, Natalie Point 3-10 0-0 8, Alayna Kakacek 1-9 4-5 6, Delaney Janssen 0-2 0-2 0, Khloe Mefferd 3-5 2-2 9, Halee Hauswirth 2-4 0-2 4, Katie Rierson 1-1 1-1 3, Catie McCullough 1-2 0-0 2, Amanda Davis 1-3 0-0 2, Kristin Axman 0-3 0-0 0. Totals: 24-65 14-22 69.

St. Edmond — Anna Lursen 5-13 0-0 11, Chloe Palmer 1-8 0-0 2, Josie Harvey 1-5 0-0 2, Michaela Leiting 0-2 0-0 0, Ava Underberg 0-0 0-0 0, Abby Huss 2-6 1-4 7, Payton Bradley 2-6 0-0 4, Ava Andrew 1-1 1-1 3, Silvia Heldorfer 1-2 0-0 2, Kaili Henning 1-4 0-0 2, Sophia Schlienz 0-1 0-0 0, Maggie Flaherty 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 14-48 2-5 33.

Quarter scores: Pocahontas Area led 25-3, 34-13, 51-22. Three-point goals: Pocahontas Area 7-21 (Vial 2-2, Point 2-6, Vonnahme 1-1, Mefferd 1-3, Rierson 1-1, Kakacek 0-1, Davis 0-1, Hauswirth 0-1, Janssen 0-2, Axman 0-3). Turnovers: Pocahontas Area 14, St. Edmond 28. Total fouls: Pocahontas Area 14, St. Edmond 19.