By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
ROSENDALE - North Andrew used a 14-0 run in the first half to grab an early lead, and fended off a couple of late runs from Stanberry to beat the Bulldogs, 37-29, Tuesday night at North Andrew High School.
This comes after Stanberry defeated North Andrew, 36-31, in the Stanberry tournament semifinals just last Thursday.
Stanberry (11-3) scored the first two baskets of the game and went ahead 4-0 in the opening three minutes, but North Andrew (11-5) quickly bounced back, leading 10-4 after the first quarter and eventually 14-4 early in the second.
"We got off to a really good start offensively," North Andrew head coach Craig Walker said. "Offensively, seeing the ball go in the basket is a big thing for our team. Never worried about our girls competing on the defensive side. Did what we asked of them tonight and they pulled it out at the end there."
The Bulldogs went on an 8-2 run after a timeout to get back to within two possessions, but a three-pointer by North Andrew's Brylie Brincks put the Cardinals up 21-14 at the half.
Stanberry didn't go down easy. The Bulldogs opened the third quarter on a 7-0 run, all scored by Lexi Craig, to tie the game at 21, but Brincks hit two big threes in the third quarter to give the Cardinals a 27-23 advantage entering the fourth.
"I think we really pulled together as a team," Brincks said. "We kind of struggled a little bit in the third quarter, but we really challenged ourselves and came back and worked as a team."
Neither team could score a whole lot in the closing minutes, but North Andrew made 6-of-8 free throws in the final quarter to maintain their lead after only getting to the foul line once in the first three quarters.
"Taking care of the basketball, being strong and making the free throws at the end," Walker said. "The girls did what we needed them to get done. So proud of them."
Brincks led the Cardinals with 13 points. Freshman Madison Lillard had nine - all from beyond the arc.
Craig led Stanberry with 19 points - 13 of which came in the second half. Amelia Wallace had the other 10 points for the Bulldogs.
Stanberry, who saw a six-game win streak snapped, is home to King City Friday. North Andrew, winner of two in a row, is home to North Harrison Friday as well.
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