Aquinas girls capture DC tournament
Thursday, January 7, 2010 - 2:25 am
By Kreig Ritter
Banner-Press Sports Editor
Already missing one key component, the Aquinas girls' basketball team had to survive losing another.
Mary Klosterman's two free throws with 41.5 seconds left lifted the Monarchs to a 50-49 win over North Bend in the championship game of the David City Holiday Tournament Dec. 30.
Aquinas (6-1) had to play the entire game without starting point guard Rachel Stara, who injured her shoulder in the team's first round win over David City.
Losing a player who'd averaged 7.5 assists and 6.5 steals over the previous two games was tough enough, but then the Monarchs lost senior all-stater Katie Holoubek, who fouled out with 4:01 remaining.
"I was close to having us start to work the clock and make them foul us. We were starting to get a tiny bit of momentum, then Katie picks up that fifth foul and it's 'Here we go,'" Aquinas Coach Joe Pipal said.
North Bend (5-1) responded when Holoubek fouled out, going on an 11-1 run to take a 49-48 lead with 1:02 left.
The Monarchs went inside, with Klosterman getting fouled on a shot attempt. She hit both free throws to put Aquinas up.
Hull couldn't get a three to drop. After a Monarch turnover, Gross-Rhode got a wide-open look at the top of the key, but missed the three.
Klosterman missed the front of a one-and-one, but Megan Engel got the offensive rebound. Amy Baumert wound up stealing the ball in the corner. With Engel in defensive position, the Tigers called timeout with 3.9 seconds remaining.
The ball wound up in Baumert's hands. With a defender on her, she was forced to pass the ball to Julia Mlnarick, who had to force up a jumper that missed as time expired.
Holoubek was a big factor while she was on the floor, finishing with 22 points (14 in the second half), nine rebounds and four steals.
Sophomore Amanda Novacek got the start for Stara. She had 13 points and three assists.
Gross-Rhode led North Bend with 20 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots. Hull had 11 points, six rebounds and five assists. Settles and Katie Dvorak had five rebounds apiece.
Aquinas hosted Omaha Concordia Tuesday. The Monarchs are scheduled to host East Butler Thursday and Logan View Saturday before traveling to Twin River next Tuesday.
