The Holy Cross basketball teams took to the court over the weekend, both facing off against Saint Xavier. Despite their efforts, both teams fell short, with the women’s team losing 76-64 and the men’s team falling 110-73.
Women’s game
Holy Cross started off early in the first quarter as senior guard Kayliana Hammel scored four points and freshman forward Allie Caldwell scored five to put them ahead 9-0. St. Xavier started to score, going on a 5-0 run before sophomore guard Lilly Toppen, senior forward Grace Adams and freshman forward Kaiden Hanley got involved to bring the score to 16-5. St. Xavier added five points but Adams and Hammel scored four together. Junior guard Audrey Tallent scored five points to end the quarter with the Saints ahead 25-10.
Caldwell started off the second quarter with two points before St. Xavier went on an 8-0 run. Hanley and senior guard Jordyn Smith each scored two points before St. Xavier’s second 8-0 run of the quarter, bringing the score to 31-26. The teams exchanged a few baskets but Toppen scored the final three points of the quarter to keep the Saints ahead 38-28.
St. Xavier opened the third quarter with a nine-point run, but the Saints responded with a layup from Smith, another from sophomore forward Brooke Lindesmith, and a three-pointer from Hammel, narrowing the gap to 45-37. St. Xavier added five more points, but the Saints kept pace with four points from Adams, three from Caldwell, and two from Hammel, bringing the score to 54-42. Although St. Xavier mounted an 8-2 run — briefly halted by a jump shot from Smith — the Saints held onto their lead heading into the final quarter, up 56-50.
St. Xavier went on a 15-0 run before Adams and Caldwell broke the ice and scored five between them. St. Xavier scored nine more points for themselves, solidifying a win. Runs by St. Xavier at the end made the final score, 76-64.
Caldwell led the team on the court with 15 points and Adams had 14 rebounds. The Saints now prepare to play Trinity Christian Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
Men’s game
Sophomore guard Joey Garwood gave the Saints an early lead but seven points from St. Xavier put them ahead 7-3. Garwood, senior guard Nash Hostetler and senior guard Justin O’Neal each scored to pull the Saints ahead but St. Xavier managed to stay barely ahead of them. The two teams exchanged baskets the rest of the quarter but St. Xavier managed to pull ahead, ending the quarter 20-16.
Sophomore guard Beau Barhams scored two points but three points from St. Xavier brought the score to 23-18. Hostetler scored four but St. Xaver pulled back ahead, scoring five points to make the score 28-22. Two more points from St. Xavier brought the score to 30-22 but senior guard Phil Robles II added eight points to tie the score. St. Xavier went on a 14-4 run, that sent the teams to halftime with a score of 44-36.
After the half, Hostetler added four points and Garwood added two points to bring the score to 46-42, but St. Xavier had a 10-0 run. Garwood added two points but St. Xavier scored five, making the score 59-44. O’Neal added two more points for the Saints and freshman guard Callaghan Weatherspoon scored to bring the score to 59-48. St. Xavier went on a 13-0 run before Holy Cross added eight points to close the quarter.
St. Xavier went on a 19-0 run to start the fourth quarter, bringing the score to 91-56 before Garwood and O’Neal each scored a basket. St. Xavier and Holy Cross each scored seven points to make the score 101-67. Nine points from St. Xavier pulled them further ahead. Two points from Kelly, two points from freshman forward Karl Birgisson and two points from Weatherspoon ended the game with St. Xavier taking the 110-73 win.
O’Neal led the team with 15 points and Hostetler had eight rebounds. The Saints also play Trinity Christian Wednesday, starting at 7:30p.m.
