SHAWN DIGIANFELICE
Sports Writer
The Community Viqueens (16–14) saw their season come to an end Monday night, falling 43–30 to Loretto in a physical Region 5-AA girls basketball semifinal at East Hickman High School.
Loretto struck first two minutes into the game when Ally Augustin scored to give the Lady Mustangs an early 2–0 lead. Community answered, as junior Alyssa White scored twice and sophomore Savannah Pearson added a basket to put the Viqueens ahead 6–2. Sophie Weathers knocked down one of two free throws late in the period, but Pearson answered before the buzzer to give Community an 8–3 advantage after one quarter.
Weathers opened the second quarter with five straight points for Loretto, hitting a three-pointer and a pair of free throws to tie the game at 8–8. Pearson buried her first of two three-pointers to push Community back in front, 11–8, and White added a free throw to make it 12–8. Jessie Chance cut the deficit to two before Weathers drilled a buzzer-beating three to give Loretto a 13–12 halftime lead.
Community briefly regained the lead early in the third quarter on another basket by White, but Weathers tied it again at 14 from the free-throw line. Augustin capitalized on a turnover to put Loretto ahead 16–14. Senior Anna Haskins tied the game at 16 with just over four minutes remaining, but full-court pressure from the Lady Mustangs led to four straight Community turnovers and a 6–0 Loretto run. Community trimmed the deficit to 24–20 late in the quarter, but Alexa Crosby hit a three at the buzzer to extend the Lady Mustangs’ lead to 27–20 heading into the fourth. Sara Flanagan opened the final quarter with a free throw to cut the margin to six, but Loretto seized control with a decisive 15–2 run to stretch the lead to 42–23. Haskins scored five straight points for Community, including a three-pointer, to make it 42–28 with 1:30 remaining. A free throw by Weathers and a late basket by Madisyn Hill closed out the scoring and the season for the Viqueens.
Despite the loss, Community head coach Cody Pierce said he was proud of how his team grew over the course of the season.
“This team was pretty special,” Pierce said. “We had some tough losses early, and we were 10–11 in the middle of January when the snow and ice hit. During that break, the kids stayed focused and worked hard in practice. I told them we were about to make a run, and they proved it. We went 6–3 down the stretch, and Loretto is the only team we lost to in the last month and a half. They’re good, and we had our chances — we just couldn’t score enough against their pressure. I couldn’t be more proud of my kids.”
Pierce also praised his lone senior, Anna Haskins, for her impact on the program.
“Anna has been a tremendous asset,” Pierce said. “She’s a high-character young lady and has been our most consistent scorer over the past few years. Her leadership on and off the court has laid a strong foundation for the future.” Haskins finished with seven points, as did Pearson and White. Weathers led all scorers with 20 points for Loretto, followed by Augustin with nine.
Community: 8- 4- 8- 10–30
Loretto: 3-10-14-16- 43
Community- Savannah Pearson-7, Anna Haskins- 7, Alyssa White- 7, Madison Hill- 4, Sara Flannagan- 5, Maxey, Yoes.
Loretto- Kinlee Stutts- 2, Ally Augustin-9, Jessie Chance-7, Sophie Weathers-20, Alexa Crosby-5, Fisher, Craig, Lilly Augustin.
Three-Point Baskets: Community- 2: Pearson, White Loretto- 3: Weathers 2, Crosby
Halftime Score: Loretto-13 Community-12 Records:
Community: 16-14. Loretto: 19-10
Community sophomore Savannah Pearson (2) goes up for an easy two points in the region 5-AA girls semifinal at East Hickman High School. Pearson would finish with seven points as the Viqueens would fall to Loretto 43-30.