Youthful Lady Indians turn program around with only one upperclassman

The St. Vincent girls’ basketball team entered the 2022-23 season with no seniors and only one junior.

The Indians were 10-17 last season, and are in a stretch in which going 11-10 in 2021 represents their only winning season in the last four years.

St. Vincent defeating a New Madrid team with only five girls 54-14 on Monday to open the Delta New Years Tournament isn’t surprising, but the Indians winning their 10th game this early is.

“I definitely didn’t expect to be this far in and have this record yet,” said Cailyn Prost, St. Vincent’s lone upperclassmen. “I did know that we were going to be a fighting team. I knew we were going to have some talent.”

Prost scored 16 points against New Madrid, including nine points in a second quarter in which the Indians outscored the Eagles 25-0.

New Madrid played with only five players during the game. Emani Summers led the Eagles with eight points.

Freshman Lana Adams scored a team leading 18 points, all through the first three quarters. Sophomore Allie Patrick also scored nine points. There is little prescient for a team filled with underclassmen leading a turnaround like this.

“I pretty much had faith in all my teammates,” Prost said, “and I know that they can do what they do.”

Prost played with two seniors the previous season but is now the de facto veteran leader. Her work was certainly cut out for her, but she has been enjoying the challenge.

“It’s been really fun for me actually,” Prost said. “I’ve been with these girls for like a couple years now, and this summer we really started to get going. So I’ve had a really fun time and it’s been a struggle, but we’ve also came on top.”

St. Vincent is currently trending toward its first 20-win season since 2011. In the Indians’ district is Meadow Heights, who turn itself around a year ago with its first winning season since 2013.

Led by Rachael Hellebusch’s 20 points, the Panthers easily defeated Advance 52-33 to improve to 9-1 on the season. Madisen Denman scored 11 points, and she combined with Hellebusch to scored all of the Panthers’ points in the first quarter, leading 13-6.

Ashley Allen scored six of her eight points in the third quarter, pushing the Panthers lead to 39-18.

Maggie Stubenrauch led the Hornets with 13 points, seven of which came during the fourth quarter, which was the only period in which Advance outscored Meadow Heights (15-13).

The Panther and Indians will meet in the tournament semifinals at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday. It is also a matchup that could potentially be a preview of the Class 2 District 3 championship game.

Both teams have played in the tournament final against Delta in the previous two years. Delta smashed St. Vincent in 2021 and mashed Meadow Heights in 2022. The Bobcats got to relax during the first round and will meet Woodland in the semifinal at 5:15 p.m., Wednesday.

Woodland narrowly edged by Scott County Central 59-53. The Cardinals trailed the Braves 43-40 entering the fourth quarter. Carolina Rhodes shot 10-of-12 from the free throw line and Sarah Wilkinson scored four of her 14 points to cap the comeback in the final period. Mallory Barks led the Cardinals with 21 points through the first three quarters.

Nikki Adams scored 15 points for the Braves, followed by 10 points from Camarie Purdue. Scott City Central will take on Wednesday’s winner between New Madrid and Advance at 4 p.m., in the consolation final at 4 p.m., Thursday.