The St. Anthony Saints overcame an early deficit to defeat the St. Monica Lady Mariners 65-61 on Tuesday night in what was senior night for the home team.
The Lady Mariners opened the game with crisp ball movement and accurate three-point shooting that built an early lead and prompted St. Anthony coach Ray Bennet to call out his players during the first quarter.
But the Saints found their rhythm in the second quarter behind the efforts of Jordyn Washington, who shook off a slow start to help St. Anthony take a 23-18 halftime advantage.
"Washington found her confidence in the second quarter," said one observer of the game.
The momentum shift continued in St. Anthony's favor as Washington and teammate Kadence Lloyd took control of the contest. Washington finished with 20 points while Lloyd led all scorers with 21 points and earned game MVP honors.
The second half turned physical, with multiple hard fouls committed by players from both teams during the third quarter. Despite the increased intensity, St. Monica managed to stay within striking distance, trailing just 41-38 entering the final period thanks largely to the two-way play of guard Kim Macias.
Macias, who finished with a team-high 26 points, served as the primary catalyst for the Lady Mariners' offense throughout the contest. She received crucial support in the fourth quarter from Sydney Ghobrial, who demonstrated toughness while connecting on timely three-point shots to keep St. Monica competitive.
However, Lloyd proved to be the difference-maker down the stretch for St. Anthony. The Saints guard fought through St. Monica's full-court pressure defense and made key plays in the closing minutes to secure the four-point victory.
The loss dropped St. Monica to 18-6 overall for the season. The Lady Mariners split their next two games, suffering a double-overtime defeat to San Dimas before bouncing back with a victory over St. Mary's Academy.
St. Monica concluded its regular season schedule Tuesday with a game against La Salle.
The senior night loss was particularly disappointing for the Lady Mariners, who had hoped to send their graduating players out with a victory on their home court. Despite the defeat, the team showed resilience throughout the contest and never allowed St. Anthony to pull away completely.
St. Anthony's comeback victory demonstrated the team's ability to adjust during the game. After struggling early against St. Monica's ball movement and perimeter shooting, the Saints tightened their defense and found more consistent offensive production from their key players.
The physical nature of the second half reflected the intensity both teams brought to what was an important late-season matchup. While the increased contact led to several hard fouls, both teams maintained their composure and continued to execute their game plans.
For St. Monica, the performance of Macias and Ghobrial provided positive signs heading into the postseason. Macias's ability to run the offense and score at a high level, combined with Ghobrial's clutch shooting and toughness, gives the Lady Mariners a solid foundation to build upon.
St. Anthony's balanced scoring attack, led by Lloyd and Washington, showed the depth that could serve the Saints well in tournament play. Lloyd's MVP performance, which included her ability to handle pressure situations and break through defensive pressure, highlighted her importance to the team's success.
The game served as a fitting end to the regular season home schedule for St. Monica, providing an entertaining contest for the senior night crowd despite the disappointing result for the home team.