Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Kyla Mason (21) shoots Iowa City Liberty’s Ava Meyer (20) during the first quarter of Tuesday’s first quarter at Xavier High School. The Saints won 67-43. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)
Xavier’s Libby Fandel (13) shoots under pressure from Liberty’s Haley Schroeder (22). Fandel scored a game-high 19 points in the Saints’ 67-43 win. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)
Xavier’s Ava Turner (5) regains possession after battling Liberty’s Haley Schroeder (22) and Ava Meyer (20) for control. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)
CEDAR RAPIDS – It’s decision time, and the Xavier Saints made a big one before returning from the holiday break:
Under 10 turnovers per game.
Tom Lilley’s response: “Well, it’s up to you.”
So far so good. very good.
Class 4A top-ranked Cedar Rapids Xavier was good in its January comeback. The Saints shot nearly 50 percent from the field and posted an assist ledger in a 67-43 women’s basketball victory Tuesday at Ron Thielen Gymnasium.
“Only five[variables]?” Senior Kayla Mason said. Our goal is 10. Five is awesome.
Defending 4A state champion Xavier (9-1) was living dangerously before the break, winning six games by 10 points or less.
This is without a doubt after the first few minutes. The Saints led 18-8 after the quarter, and it was 33-20 at intermission.
Like a freshly opened bag of Fritos.
“We didn’t play bad,” Lilley said. “We were a little nervous early on. But it was nerve-wracking, and I can’t blame them for that.
Libby Fandel, a sophomore Stater, led the Saints with 19 points, hitting 8 of 12 shots from the floor. Mason added 18 and Sidney Huber had 10.
“At halftime, we conditioned a lot,” Fandel said. “Our pitching was not good. But we learned a lot of things that helped us a lot,” he said.
Emma Arnold distributed four of the Saints’ 17 hits. The Saints held the Lightning (6-4) to 14-of-55 shooting (25.5 percent).
“I think we can be a pretty tough defensive team when we want to be,” Lilly said.
Jasmine Barney led Liberty with 11 points.
Tuesday’s game did not count in the MVC rankings. The rematch — Jan. 27 at Independence — will likely play a big role in Mississippi’s divisional race.
Both teams are 4-0 in league play.
Men: Xavier 59, Liberty 50
Aidan Yamilkoski scored 13 points in the third quarter, including all 10 in a crucial 10-0 run that helped send the 3A top-ranked Saints to an 8-0 run.
Xavier faced a 29-20 deficit in the middle of the second period, but at halftime it worked within 31-30.
Yamilkoski’s layup put the Saints in front, 40-33. The margin reached 13, then the Saints got within 52-47 after Liberty (3-3).
Yamilkoski finished with 21 points. Joe Bean added 13 points and Joseph Lemker added 11.
Da’Shawn Fisher led Liberty with 20 points. Trey Hughes added 18.
Cedar Rapids Xavier 67, Iowa City Liberty 43
By CR Xavier
Iowa City Liberty (43): Avery Gaudet 2-7 4-4 8, Jasmine Barney 3-12 4-6 11, Kennedy Daugherty 2-5 0-2 4, Ava Meyer 1-7 1-2 3, Madeline Casey 4-14 0-0 9, Haley Schroeder 2-6 1-1 6, Janessa Mosley 0-1 0-0 0, Bella Taffola 0-3 0-0 0, Libby Allen 0-1 2-4 2, Kennedy Goodheart 0-0 0-0 0, Sarah Roe 0-0 0-0 0. Total 14-55 12-19 43.
Cedar Rapids XAVIER (67): Emma Arnold 2-7 0-0 5, Libby Fandel 8-12 0-0 19, Sydney Huber 4-6 1-2 10, Kyla Mason 6-12 6-8 18, Lexi Turner 0-2 4-6 4; Ava Turner 0-1 0-0 0, Aliyah Beyer 2-3 0-0 4, Madden Wilson 2-5 0-0 5, Reese Komenda 0-0 0-0 0, Carly Jonker 0-1 0-0 0, Taylor Rexroth 0-0 0-0 0, Jacel Lang 0-0 0-0 0, Katie Pilcher 1-2 0-0 2, Brooklyn Emerson 0-0 0-0 0, Maizie Fisher 0-1 0-0 0. Total 25-52 11-16 67.
Freedom of Iowa City 8 12 15 8 — 43
CR Xavier 18 15 23 11 — 67
3-point goals: Liberty 3-23 (Gaudet 0-2, Barney 1-4, Meyer 0-3, Casey 1-9, Schroeder 1-3, Tafolla 0-2, Allen 0-1), Xavier 6-14 (Arnold 1-3 ), Fandel 3-4, Huber 1-2, L. Turner 0-1, Beier 0-1, Wilson 1-3) Group errors: Liberty 11, Xavier 17 It’s broken. nothing else. Restoration: Liberty 39 (Daugherty 11), Xavier 39 (L. Turner 6). Help: Liberty 3 (three of 1), Xavier 17 (Arnold 4). Thefts: Liberty 5 (Barney 2), Xavier 5 (Fandel 2). Sales: Liberty 9, Xavier 5
Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com
