Haas goes for 18 in HTC win

BY CHUCK VANDENBERG

PCC EDITOR

FORT MADISON - Junior Ashlynn Haas hit four 3-pointers in a row in a two-minute stretch over the third and fourth quarter to lead Holy Trinity to a 58-28 win over New London Tuesday night at home in Southeast Superconference girls basketball action.

The Lady Tigers dressed just seven girls and have gone 0-4 on the season, but got the Crusaders into a funk of sorts in the first half. Holy Trinity shot a dismal 4-18 in the first quarter and at one point post Emily Box missed two shots under the basket on a steal and fast break, rebounded the two shots and missed a third.

Box would regroup to score 16 points on the night. Senior Eryn Anderson was also in double figures with 10. Mya Lawlor and Taylor Boeding each had six for the Crusaders and Katie Denning scored two.

Holy Trinity junior Ashlynn Haas gets mugged driving the basket in the second half of Tuesday's 58-28 win over New London. Photo by Chuck Vandenberg/PCC

Holy Trinity jumped out to a 8-2 first quarter lead on a couple of free throws from Box, but New London would get back-to-back buckets from Kara Krieger to cut the lead to four at the end of the first period.

The Lady Crusaders were able to open things up in the second quarter, however. After the Tigers' Alisha Boles scored in transition off a press to make it 10-8, Holy Trinity would rip off a 16-1 run highlighted by three straight driving buckets from senior Mya Lawlor. Boeding and Haas each had assists across the lane to get Lawlor the open looks. At 20-9 the Crusaders would miss their next four shots in a row, but New London couldn't come up with any points on their end to take advantage of the HTC's shooting woes.

Anderson would complete a 3-point play after getting fouled by Krieger on drive. Boeding would score in a fast break off a bounce feed from Haas to take a 26-9 lead. The Tiger's Layney Loyd would convert a bucket with about :30 left in the half and the Anderson would score again just before the buzzer to give HTC at 28-11 lead going into the lockerroom.

Head Coach Tony Johnson said his girls came in a bit overconfident.

"They just woke up I guess. I think sometimes you see another team that you've beaten in the past and you see six or seven girls dressed and you get a little overconfident," Johnson said. "We didn't have a very good practice last night, but we will correct that tomorrow night."

HTC struggles from the field continued in the third period when the Crusaders missed four of their first six after Boeding scored inside to start the period. Box scored a couple buckets off rebounds and then Krieger nailed a 3-pointer to make it 35-16.

With 1:44 left, Haas got hot from the left side of the arc hitting two long balls out from the left sandwiched around a Box bucket inside. Haas hit again from the left baseline just before the end of the quarter to give the Crusaders a comfortable 44-16 lead.

Haas hit again from the right side this time to open the final period for Holy Trinity, and Johnson started subbing liberally.

"Ashlynn in the second half carried us a bit. After halftime, I gave her the point. She can get up a little quicker and still run the offense."

The Crusaders are 3-2 on the season and travel to Burlington Notre-Dame on Friday night. The Nikes are 1-1 on the season, not including Tuesday's game against Danville. That score was unavailable.