If there’s a mythical Archdiocesan Athletic Association championship, the Borgia Lady Knights have captured it.
Borgia (16-6) captured the final game of the AAA Shootout Saturday against St. Charles Lutheran (20-4), 40-34.
“It was a playoff type game,” said Borgia Head Coach Stacia Parsell. “Lutheran is a strong team and we wanted to show our defensive prowess.”
Borgia earned the right to play in the evening’s finale at St. Dominic Saturday night by virtue of leading the AAA Large Division at the time the matchups were determined. St. Charles Lutheran already has claimed the Small Division championship with a perfect 7-0 league mark.
The victory for Borgia was the second over St. Charles Lutheran this season. Borgia beat the Lady Cougars Jan. 21 at Borgia, 67-64.
Borgia can’t celebrate winning the Large Division quite yet. With a 5-1 record, Borgia has two final league home games against Bishop DuBourg Tuesday and St. Dominic Wednesday. Both still have a chance to either tie or surpass Borgia depending on the results.
The DuBourg game Tuesday will be a rematch of a 58-34 Borgia win Dec. 7 in South St. Louis. Tuesday’s game will be a tripleheader with freshman action beginning at 4 p.m.
Wednesday’s home finale against St. Dominic starts with junior varsity action at 5:30 p.m.
St. Charles Lutheran
Borgia opened Saturday night’s game by outscoring St. Charles Lutheran in the first quarter, 11-7.
Borgia increased its lead to 21-16 at the intermission.
The Lady Cougars rallied in the third quarter, cutting Borgia’s lead to 26-25 through three quarters.
Borgia was able to seal the game down the stretch.
Senior Katie Lindemann led the Lady Knights with 18 points and added nine rebounds and one steal before fouling out in the closing seconds.
“We really wanted to focus on our inside game and Katie made that happen,” Parsell said. “It was a good rebounding night for our interior defense. Outside shooting was not there for us so it was great to know we could depend on Katie Lindemann.”
Junior Janie Arand scored 10 points and hit six of those points from the free-throw line. She added five rebounds, three steals and an assist.
Junior Emily Grahl scored six points, with four of those coming from the free-throw line. Parsell indicated Grahl’s free throws came at a crucial time in the game.
“Emily Grahl put the game out of reach at free-throw line late in the game,” Parsell said.
Grahl also had five assists and two steals.
Sophomore Molly Arand recorded four points while hitting the team’s only three-point basket in the contest. She added four steals and an assist.
Freshman Megan Jensen scored two points with four rebounds and a steal.
“Megan Jensen also contributed to our inside attack,” Parsell said.
Sophomore Cassandra Halsted did not score, but pulled down seven rebounds and added a steal.
Others playing were seniors Morgan Spradling and Madison Wehking and juniors Baylee Godat and Alexis Sine.
Claire Schoedel led St. Charles Lutheran in scoring with 12 points.
Jessica Skerston was next for the Lady Cougars with nine points.
Hannah Leppien scored five points while Lauren Orr added four and Savannah Kluesner and Carley Von Deylen netted two points apiece.
