Sports : Another last-second loss for Vikettes; Vikings win big vs. CCA

Maci Griffith attempts a 3-point shot.

Erin Randall eyes the basket.

Bethany Stainbrook and Erin Randall fight a Clipper player for the ball.

Bethany Stainbrook led the Vikettes with 22 points.

Freshman Anna Sagan scored 21 and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Vikettes vs. CCA.

Maci Griffith shows poise as she runs the Vikette floor game, says Coach Deb Hanneman.

Makayla Westendoor looks for an open teammate to pass to.

For the second time in two weeks, the Vinton-Shellsburg girls basketball team has felt the sting of a last-second loss at home. They lost, 58-55, against Clear Creek-Amana.

Down 25-10 early in the second period, the Vikettes rallied to tie CCA at 40 by the end of the third period Tuesday evening in Vinton.

With less then 10 seconds left the play, the Vikettes had a chance to tie the game, but the three-point try by freshman Maci Griffith bounced of the rim, off the glass and then off the rim again before falling to the floor as the buzzer sounded.

Yet, losing two very close games shows the young Vikettes – who are starting two freshmen – that victory is well within their reach, says Coach Deb Hanneman.

“It’s telling them that they are very capable of winning a ball game,” says the coach. “And it’s going to come. I am very proud of them.”

Freshman Anna Sagan recorded a double-double, scoring 21 and hauling in 11 rebounds. Freshman guard Maci Griffith played a very good floor game, said Hanneman. “She handles the pressure very well, and is very poised – she doesn’t get flustered,” said the coach. Despite usually being the smallest player on the floor, and often being double-teamed as she tried to move the ball down the court, Griffith only turned the ball over once.

Bethany Stainbrook also had a very good game said the coach; she led the Vikettes with 22 points.

While the Vikettes rebounded better against CCA, they got beat at the free throw line. “Everything else was even,” said Hanneman. “We just need to bring up our free throw percentages.”

Another unusual problem is hindering the Vikettes on offense: They are too unselfish.

At times on Tuesday, Hanneman instructed her players to take an open shot instead of passing to a teammate.

“We are very unselfish; sometimes we are over-passing,” she said.

The Clippers led through most of the fourth period. They quickly built a 5-point lead, but the Vikings tied the game at 47. But a 6-point run by the Clippers but the Vikettes in catch-up mode again. Despite being down by scores of 53-47 and 57-53, the VS girls kept clawing back.

The Vikettes only led once, 2-0, after the opening tip-off. Makayla Westendorf tipped the ball to Stainbrook, who drove for a layup.

The Vikettes are still looking for their first win of the year; they travel to Independence Friday.

See complete VS-CCA girls stats HERE.

Boys win big, again

The Vikings, meanwhile, traveled to Clear Creek-Amana, where they defeated the Clippers, 83-57. The undefeated Vikings host 0-2 Independence on Friday. The Vikes have won their first three games by a combined total of 72 points.

Grant Sagan shot 75 percent from the floor, and led the Vikings with 21 points vs. CCA. Max Griffith scored 17 and Max Kearns scored 10 while feeding his teammates seven assists.

See boys game stats HERE.