Stanton sweeps Heartland Christian

 COUNCIL BLUFFS — The Stanton varsity basketball teams scored one more win before going into the holiday break last Monday when they defeated Heartland Christian in a doubleheader at the Iowa School for the Deaf.

Boys Game

The Vikings snapped a two-game losing skid and went into break with a win as they defeated Heartland Christian 63-54 in the second game of the varsity doubleheader.

Free throws made the difference for Stanton late in the game.

The Vikings had to contend with Steve Horan, who scored 27 points for Heartland Christian. Horan was fouled on a lay-up with 1:32 to go, missing the free throw, but the Eagles trailed 52-49.

Horan is the leading scorer in the Corner Conference, averaging 28.4 points per game. The senior guard was also coming off a 50-point performance in a Fremont-Mills loss Dec. 19 at the Jenny Ed Mac Shootout.

“He was pretty difficult, I give it to him,” Stanton forward Brady Johnson said about Horan. “He was a pretty good guy. Connor [Hultman] handled him pretty well.”

David Sorensen added a point to the lead when he was fouled with 1:28 to go. Sorensen made a free throw, his first point since the second quarter. The Vikings took a 53-49 lead.

Stanton got the ball back and Sorensen made two more free throws to put the Vikings up 55-49 with 49.6 to go. Horan kept going as he quickly drove to the basket and scored, cutting the lead to 55-51.

“They were just playing really aggressive, a really scrappy team,” Johnson said. “They were just getting their hands on the ball and getting in the passing lanes.”

Sorensen went back to the free throw line two more times, making four free throws, putting the Vikings up 59-51.

Heartland Christian added a three-pointer with 14 seconds to go to cut the lead to 59-54.

Stanton scored its final points on free throws by Brady Johnson and Sorensen.

The Vikings got off to a quick start early, thanks to eight first quarter points by Sorensen. Stanton had a 17-9 lead, despite fouling their way into the bonus at the end of the first quarter.

Johnson was held scoreless in the first quarter, but he started to score in the second as Stanton maintained a 33-24 lead going into halftime. Johnson had eight points in the second quarter.

Sorensen led the team in scoring as he recorded 23 points, including 4-for-6 from three-point range. Johnson had 19 and grabbed 12 rebounds, giving the junior a double-double. 

With Sorensen hitting three pointers, it allowed Stanton to score in the paint.

“David was hitting the three pretty well tonight and the inside-out was working pretty well,” Johnson said.

Hultman finished with 14.

The Vikings enter the holiday break with a 4-2 record.

The win was important for Stanton as they came off two tough losses versus both Clarinda Academy and East Mills.

They’ll return to action Jan. 8 when they host Fremont-Mills.

“We got FM coming up here in January, so that’s going to be a pretty great game,” Johnson said.

Girls Game

It was much more decisive in the first game of the doubleheader as the Viqueens pulled out a 59-15 blowout win versus Heartland Christian last Monday.

The Viqueens took control early and never looked back.

Stanton started the game on a 12-4 run in the first four minutes of the game. Heartland Christian managed one more point as a pair of buckets in the final couple of minutes by Chelsea Weis put Stanton ahead 18-5 at the end of the first quarter.

The Viqueen offense exploded for more points, scoring 20 in the second quarter, taking a 38-11 lead into halftime.

Stanton kept its foot on the gas pedal as they only allowed four points in the second half to get the victory.

Chelsea Weis led the way with 18 points and 10 rebounds, giving the sophomore a double-double.

Ally Focht also had a double-double, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

Jody Vanderholm scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds off the bench for the Viqueens.

Logan Wagg had eight points with six steals, while Haley Weis and Lauren Stephens each scored four points.

Erin Sorensen and Nicole Graham each had two points.

The Viqueens grabbed 51 rebounds for the game.

In addition to the rebounding numbers from Focht, Chelsea Weis and Vanderholm, Brandy Morrison had six rebounds, while Haley Weis and Graham each had four.

Stanton enters the holiday break with a 3-4 record.

The Viqueens are on break now until Jan. 8 when they host Fremont-Mills as part of a varsity doubleheader.

The Red Oak Express

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P.O. Box 377
Red Oak, IA 51566
Phone: 712-623-2566 Fax: 712-623-2568

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