Top ranked Saintes end Stanton’s season

Council Bluffs St. Albert’s defense was good.
Its offense might have been better.
The top ranked Saintes turned a 6-6 ballgame into a 34-6 lead with four minutes to go in the opening half and cruised to a 61-30 victory over Stanton in the Class 1A, Region 1 semifinal Friday in Council Bluffs.
The Viqueens, winners of 12 of their last 13 games, had more turnovers (eight) than field goals (two) in the opening quarter. Stanton could never get into rhythm and the Saintes’ defense played a big role in that.
The Saintes had little trouble getting their shots. Forward Lexie Pearce came off the bench to hit all five of her three-pointers in the first half while scoring a game-high 24 points. For the game, St. Albert shot nearly 50 percent from the field and grabbed 19 steals.
“They’re a great team,” said Stanton coach Dave Snyder after the game. “They have a great system, they have depth – something we don’t have – and they put it to you when they get the opportunity to do so. Credit to them.”
St. Albert’s lead swelled to 43-11 at the half.
The Viqueens’ put together some solid second half play offensively and outscored the Saintes 19-18 over the final two quarters. But they could never get leading scorers Lauren Johnson and Hannah Olson – who entered averaging a combined 32 points per game involved consistently. Both finished with eight points.
Freshman Piper French led the way in the scoring with nine points.
Snyder talked to his team for 15 minutes after the game. Emotions were high, the coach said.
“We reminisced about their four years,” said Snyder. “The thing I told them four years ago was if you five stay out of the team, we’re going to have a heck of a team when they’re seniors. And that played out. We’re a 20-win team. It’s been fantastic team. They found success.”
Stanton closes its season with a record of 20-5. The five seniors went 83-14 in their four years and set records ‘left and right’,” Snyder said. Three new season records were set with Hannah Olson setting the new rebounding mark (241), Kyla Hart the new assist record (154) and Riley Burke in three-pointers (64).
“We don’t have the depth, so our seniors play a lot and they’re great players and they take advantage of that,” Snyder said. “They’re all A-students. I’m very comfortable they will all be successful people, and I cherish that the most.”
That’s a reward that is especially sweet for Snyder. He announced earlier this season he would be stepping down after nine years at the Viqueens’ helm and 40 years on the sidelines overall.
“It was time,” Snyder said of his decision to hang up his whistle. “There are too many things to worry about. My health is good, and I want to enjoy my retirement. I’ll stay busy. I’m an animal in a cage if I don’t stay busy.”
Snyder’s finishes his nine-year tenure at Stanton with a record of 161-48.

Stanton 49,
East Mills 47
Stanton notched its fourth win of the season over East Mills in a thrilling, 49-47 overtime victory in Class 1A, Region 1 girls basketball in Stanton last Tuesday.
The Wolverines led 23-21 at halftime and 34-31 at the end of three quarters but the Viqueens seemingly took control with an 8-0 run to open the fourth quarter.
East Mills responded with big buckets from Trenity Williams and Caitlyn Crouse to send the game into overtime.
The Wolverines opened the extra frame with back-to-back buckets to go up 45-41. But the Viqueens would once again battle back, scoring eight of the game’s final 10 points to seal the win.
Hannah Olson led Stanton with 21 points and 11 rebounds.  Lauren Johnson added 12 points and seven rebounds and Kiela Franzen 11 points.
Caitlyn Crouse scored 13 to lead East Mills. Ava Grindle chipped in nine points and 10 rebounds.