Hornettes Season Ends At Regionals

Mackenzie McFeron dribbles down the lane, in the Hornets season-ending loss to the Mater Dei Lady Knights. The Hornettes finished the season with a record of 19-9.

year and hopefully we can start another one.”

Althoff also praised the Hornettes effort in the game, “I am not disappointed in the kids at all, I don't think they ever quit, and they kept fighting. Its just one of those nights, Mater Dei was better than we were and give them credit, they're a good team.”

The Hornettes finished with two players in double figures. Holle led Nashville with 11 points, followed by McFeron with 10 points. Stanowski finished with nine points in the loss. Kasten chipped in four points, and Kell scored two points to round out the scoring.

Karly Stanowski puts up a contested shot in the first half of the Hornettes 24 point win over Dupo in the first round of the Dupo Regional.

Rachael Kell puts up a three point shot, in the second half of the Hornets blowout win over the Dupo Lady Tigers on February 9.

By Brent Huelsmann

For the first time since 1999-2000 the Hornettes basketball team will not be competing in sectionals after falling to the Mater Dei Lady Knights 52-36 on Thursday night at Dupo. The Hornettes defeated Dupo in the opening round of regionals. The Hornettes finished the season with a 19-9 record. Nashville ended the season as the Southern Illinois River to River: Mississippi Division Champions for the sixteenth consecutive year.

The Hornettes began regional play, against the Dupo Lady Tigers on Tuesday, February 9. Nashville took control of the game in the first quarter, as Paige Kasten buried three three pointers in the quarter. The Hornettes were leading 16-9 after the first quarter, and never trailed in the game, as they blew out Dupo 57-33. In the second quarter, Nashville pulled futher away, as Karly Stanowski scored 12 of the Hornettes 14 points in the quarter. At half, Nashville led 30-16. Coming out of halftime, Nashville was able to put the game out of reach, as they outscored Dupo 18-8 in the third quarter, to take a commanding 48-24 lead going into the fourth quarter. In the fourth, Nashville cruised to a 57-33 victory.

The Hornettes were led in the matchup by Stanowski with 17 points in the game. Kasten added 16 points in the win, followed by Rachael Kell with eight points. Mackenzie McFeron scored six points, while Janie Holle and Sophie Heck scored four points apiece. Libby Ahlers scored two points to round out the scoring.

That set up the regional championship matchup against Mater Dei. Mater Dei defeated Alton-Marquette in the first round of the regional. Going into the matchup, the Hornettes were 0-2 against Mater Dei this season. Mater Dei defeated Nashville 41-36 at the Mascoutah Holiday Tournament, and 41-28 on January 30.

An early five point lead for the Hornettes was quickly erased, as Mater Dei's defense took over, allowing the Lady Knights to pull away in the second quarter on their way to a 52-36 victory. The Hornettes quickly raced out to a 10-5 lead in the game, behind Holle's seven points. Nashville could not hold the lead, as Mater Dei stormed back to take a 13-11 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Hornettes would not be able to grab the lead back, as Mater Dei outscored Nashville 15-7 in the second quarter to take a 28-18 halftime lead. Coming out of halftime, Mater Dei was able to extend their lead to 12 points going into the final quarter. In the fourth, Mater Dei was able pull away futher and cruise to a 52-36 victory.

After the game, Coach Althoff talked about the good start for the Hornettes. “We had a really good start, and they just kind of turned up the intensity, and it was hard to run any sets at all, and they were just a little quicker than we were off the ball, and it was hard for us to get open. Their defense was very good.” Althoff went on to praise Mater Dei's defense, “I thought their defense was excellent, we had a hard time getting open to run sets and to be honest with you, thats a lot of our offense. And you've gotta give credit to them, I though they played very well.”

Althoff also talked about the end of the streak, “it would've been tough this year, but I'll be honest with you. It don't feel very good to lose, I'm not very good with that. I never was. The streak, its an incredible streak but sometimes they have to end. And I hated it for it to end tonight, but there's always next