IWA Girls Dominance Includes 66-37 Rout Over Hazelwood Central

BY JIM WIENERS

ESPNs Dan Patrick has a quote about an unstoppable team or an opponent, saying “you can’t stop them; you only hope to contain them.”

Incarnate Word Academy, the top-ranked team in area publications as well as statewide in the Associated Press Class Five poll, has won 17 in a row and is 18-1 overall (3-0 in the Midwest Women’s Athletic Association White Division) prior to last Monday’s game at Breese (Ill.) Mater Dei. That includes last Saturday’s 66-37 rout at Hazelwood Central, rescheduled from early December due to a power outage at Hazelwood Central. IWA also played Wednesday, at home against Hazelwood East.

“We are a real well balanced team,” said Incarnate Word Academy head coach Dan Rolfes. Only two players, Ashlee Barrett and Theresa Davis have averaged over 10 points per game but it was Barrett scored 19 points and Davis added 15. Yet IWA opened the game with an 8-0 run before Central got on the board, then the Red Knights were able to keep the lead in double digits (at least 10 points) until opening the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run to pull the game away.

None of the Hazelwood Central players scored more than nine points (Breanna McLaughlin led the Hawks in scoring with nine) and Rolfes said “Hazelwood Central is so athletic we put ball pressure by our guards. Hazelwood Central had to take the quick shot.”

On the other hand Hazelwood Central head coach Wendy Reeves said the Hawks gave IWA “too much respect. I’m not upset about the loss. I’m upset at the way we lost.
“IWA wanted it more than us. That team is experienced, well conditioned. (But) we had the wrong frame of mind before we started (so) when the see fear in our (players) eyes they (IWA) stepped it up.”

Hazelwood Central now sets their sights on winning the Suburban North Conference title after winning the season-opening conference tournament. Central was 3-0 in the Suburban North, 14-3 overall prior to last Tuesday’s game at Riverview Gardens. Hazelwood Central had already defeated Riverview in the Suburban North Tournament, Nov. 29, defeated Hazelwood East twice including Jan. 25 and has conference games left with McCluer, home Fri at 6:30, at Pattonville, Feb. 6 at 6 p.m., and at home against McCluer North, Feb. 8 at 6:30.

Riverview Gardens was 12-2, 2-0 in the Suburban North prior to last Friday’s Parkway Central Tournament game against

McCluer (a non-conference game-score not available at press time). After a non-conference game Wednesday against St. Charles the Rams host Ritenour Friday, 7 p.m., and Fort Zumwalt West Tuesday, 6 p.m. A Jan. 19 game against visiting McCluer North was called off due to a pipe burst and no make up date was available.

Hazelwood East, 15-4, 2-1 SNC prior to games Tuesday (at Ritenour) and Wednesday (at Incarnate Word) had lost two in a row Jan. 23 (Nerinx Hall) and Jan. 25 (Hazelwood Central) and plays Friday, 7 p.m., at Hazelwood West then host Riverview Gardens next Thursday, Feb. 8 at 5:30. Prior to winning their second straight John Burroughs Tournament title East lost to Metro Jan. 15 at East St. Louis, Ill.
.

Leave a Reply