Panthers fall to tough H10 opponent

The Creston girls offense was once again held back by cold shooting Tuesday at home in a 68-28 loss to No. 7 St. Albert (5-0). But on defense, the Panthers (1-3) held Saintes star Avah Underwood to just 4 points.

“They’re the toughest team in the conference,” Creston coach Tony Neubauer said. “[Underwood] averages 19 a game.”

The Saintes have outscored Hawkeye 10 opponents 249-144 this season.

Despite poor accuracy from the field, the Panthers were 100% on free throws, going eight-for-eight. Creston shot 20.9% from the field.

The Saintes got out to a quick 8-point lead before Creston junior Ella Turner broke the streak with a set of free throws. Turner came back to score five more points in the first quarter on another two free throws and a 3-point shot.

It was one of only two makes for the Panthers from outside the arc while the Saintes cleared 11 led by senior Payton Johnsen who hit four 3-pointers and had a game-high 22 points.

The Saintes were up 22-13 partially through the second quarter, but outscored the Panthers 10-2 to finish the half, going up 32-15 on a buzzer 3-pointer at the half.

“Our kids played hard tonight,” Neubauer said. “We’re not a moral victory program, but that’s a good team; that was their closest halftime score.”

Turner scored nine in the first half for the Panthers while juniors Kadley Bailey and Brynn Tussey came on stronger in the second half. Bailey finished with eight points and Tussey with seven.

Senior Ava Adamson led in rebounds with six boards, Turner chipping in five. Junior Hollynn Rieck had a team-high five assists. Bailey led the Panthers with four steals.

The Saintes came out of the half and widened the gap, putting up another eight unanswered. They scored 19 in the third and 17 in the fourth to pull away to a 40-point lead.

“I love our effort, we just have to clean stuff up,” Neubauer said. “We need to be more efficient when we score.”

The Panthers return to action Friday at home against Atlantic.

STATS

CRESTON (28) — Totals — (FG FT PTS) 9 8-8 28. Ella Turner 1 6-6 9, Kadley Bailey 4 0-0 8, Brynn Tussey 3 0-0 7, Ava Adamson 0 2-2 2, Braylee Pokorny 1 0-0 2. FG shooting — 9-43 (20.9% percent). 3-point goals — 2-10 (Turner 1, B. Tussey 1). Rebounds — 20 (Adamson 6, E. Turner 5, B. Tussey 4, Braylee Pokorny 1, Reese Adamson 2). Assists — 8 (Rieck 5, Bailey 1, Turner 1, Ady Morrison 1). Steals — 10 (Bailey 4, Turner 2, Morrison 1, Tussey 1, Turner 1, Rieck 1). Blocked shots — 2 (Bailey 1, Tussey 1). Turnovers — 21. Team fouls — 13. Fouled out — Adamson.

Saintes stats unavailable