Sun - 05 Feb
Written by Tom Fruehling
Turns out even Christian coaches can lose their cool.
With 30 seconds left in the third quarter of a game that went to overtime Saturday night, Waterloo Christian Coach Tyson Roberts jumped off the bench and was immediately socked with a technical foul.
It cost his team two points on free throws by Cedar Valley Christian. But the Regents rallied back from a three-point deficit and tied it at 41-41 at the end of regulation on a wide-open 3-pointer by long-shot specialist Danielle Armbrecht.
That was their last gasp, though, as the home Huskies put together a string of free throws in the extra period to win their second game in two nights, 53-47.
Now 4-15 for the season (with victories coming in the only two home games of the year), Cedar Valley goes to Lisbon Tuesday and then turns around to play the Lions in the first round of the district tournament.
"We're going crazy now," Husky senior Ellen Rodriguez said of the back-to-back wins.
The 40-24 victory over winless Calamus-Wheatland Friday night was big, according to junior Izzy Hoffman. "But this one was momentous," she said. "Like we've got some momentum."
As always, Cedar Valley played practically the entire game with its five starters. One-and-only reserve Alyson Wood was used sparingly in the third quarter. So Coach Craig Foote's mantra throughout was, "No fouls, no fouls."
Which is precisely what momentarily upset opposing Coach Roberts. For the game, his girls were whistled for 27 fouls to only nine for the Huskies.
"I got a little excited at that one point when I thought our girls were getting pushed," Roberts said. "I stood up, which you can't do unless there's a dead ball.
"I didn't mean to be disrespectful of the refs. And I didn't say anything wrong. It was just the heat of the moment."
That aside, he said it was a fun game. "It was hard-fought and up-and- down the whole way," he said.
Waterloo Christian (4-17) was counting on sophomore sparkplug Anna Doering, who responded with 18 points on nine baskets. Senior Armbrecht added 16 points, including three baskets from long range.
For the Huskies, their game revolves around freshman stringbean center Shelby Hembera. She led again with 21 points, but Rodriguez added 16 and senior Lindsey Cach chipped in with 11.
An unsung hero again, however, was reluctant shooter Carly Silver. The senior made her fifth basket of the year (but missed a 3-point attempt), pulled down seven rebounds, made a steal and threw a long pass for a fast-break bucket and was the only Husky without a turnover.
"She played great," said Foote. "All the girls played great. They played with tremendous energy, especially considering that we had a game on the road the night before."
WATERLOO CHRISTIAN (47): Elizabeth Pakala 2 0-0 4, Anna Doering 9 0-0 18, Danielle Armbrecht 6 1-1 16, Emily Wynthein 1 0-0 2, Aubrey Grant 1 2-2 4, Melissa Pakala 0 0-0 0, Katlin Armbrecht 1 0-0 2, Maddy Sullivan 0 0-0 0, April Hall 0 1-2 1. Totals 20 4-5 47.
CEDAR VALLEY CHRISTIAN (53): Carly Silver 1 0-2 2, Ellen Rodriguez 7 2-6 16, Lindsey Cach 3 5-9 11, Izzy Hoffman 0 3-8 3, Shelby Hembera 7 7-9 21, Alyson Wood 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 17-34 53.
Halftime - Cedar Valley 21, Waterloo 18. Regulation - Cedar Valley 41, Waterloo 41. 3-point goals - Waterloo Christian 3 (D. Armbrecht 3), Cedar Valley none. Fouled out - D. Armbrecht. Technical foul - Waterloo bench.
