HTC rolls Moulton-Udell in Region 7 opener

FORT MADISON – It took a couple minutes to get things going, but the Holy Trinity Catholic girls advanced Thursday night with a lopsided 61-24 win over Moulton-Udell in Class 1A Region 7 action at Shottenkirk Gymnasium.
The Eagles (3-19) hung around with a lethargic Crusader squad through about six of the first eight minutes and trailed by just two points at 6-4 with 2:45 left in the first period.
But there was sense in less than 100 people in attendance that the Eagles' luck would run out. And it did, after senior Teagan Snaadt decided enough was enough.
At 6-4 Snaadt recorded two steals and converted them into buckets going the other way scoring twice on the back-to-back steals for a 10-4 1st quarter lead.
At one point in the lead, HTC Head Coach Shawn Hopper blasted the Crusaders for getting back to slow and pulled a couple starters.
“Monday we just ran out of gas and I wasn’t happy with the effort. And I was not going to sit there and watch another lack of effort tonight,” Hopper said.
“I felt like there were a couple times tonight where we got beat down the court and that should not happen.”
The scolding and benching worked as the HTC girls shifted into another gear again behind Snaadt’s leadership. The senior hit back-to-back 3-balls after missing six of her first nine shots from the floor. The second 3-pointer came from left wing and put the Lady Crusaders up 21-6.
Moulton-Udell’s Miah Burgher heated up momentarily with back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the lead to nine at 21-12.

Olivia Bendlage would convert inside for Holy Trinity and then the Crusader defense would hold the Eagles, who were playing with just eight girls total, scoreless the rest of the first half and allowed just five shots from the field. Snaadt had three steals in the defensive stand.
A bucket by Anna Bendlage set the halftime score at 31-12.
Holy Trinity would methodically pull away in the second half highlighted by Snaadt’s 10 points.
Hopper said he didn’t have to say much to trigger Snaadt after the first quarter blahs.
“Teagan is one that’s pretty self-motivated. Very rarely do I have to get on her. She can right the ship herself. She knows how to get out of a slump.”
Hopper said despite the slow start, when the Crusaders got going they moved the ball very well.
“We had some of our best ball movement possessions tonight. There were a couple of times where we really moved the ball well and when you do that, you get some good looks.”
Holy Trinity will face Lone Tree (18-3) on Tuesday night in the regional quarters and Hopper said the Crusaders have a decent shot to win that game and advance.
“I’m pretty comfortable. We went up to watch Lone Tree play Danville and they’re beatable. I think we match up pretty well, it’s all about our effort.”
Olivia Bendlage had 15 for the Crusaders and Adalyn Kruse finished with 12. Elizabeth Griffin had eight in the win.