After a postponement on Friday, Jan. 10, the Trojan basketball teams made up their game against the Kuemper Catholic Knights on Tuesday, Jan. 28. 

The Trojan girls’ record was even at seven wins and seven losses. They were also coming off a huge win over Des Moines North. On the other hand, Kuemper Catholic was 4-11. Like the Trojans, the Knights were victorious in their last outing, as they trounced Greene County, 69-17. Atlantic was looking for the season sweep, after edging the Knights 56-55 before winter break.

Juniors Haley Rasmussen, Taylor McCreedy, and Maycie Waters, as well as seniors Corri Pelzer and Kenzie Waters, started for Atlantic.

The girls tipped off, and Kuemper Catholic put on the pressure. At the end of the first quarter, the Trojans were down by three points. An offensive second frame pulled Atlantic within one heading into the locker room.

The momentum stayed with the Trojans in the third quarter, as they put up 17 points. Atlantic was ahead 42-38, but the Knights weren’t done. In the final moments of the game, the Trojans gave up three points, putting them behind the Knights, 54-53. With four seconds left on the clock, K. Waters was fouled, sending her to the line for one of the last plays of the game. She hit both of her shots, snagging back the lead, 55-54. Atlantic hung on to win, beating the Knights for the second time this season.

Against Kuemper Catholic, K. Waters had 17 points. Junior Lauren Nicholas hit 15 points, all of which came from beyond the arc. Pelzer had an impressive 11 rebounds.

Following the girls’ victory, the boys took the court. The Trojans had evened their record at 6-6, after downing Saydel on Friday, Jan. 24. They had also won three games straight. The Knights were 3-10, and coming off a loss to Dallas Center-Grimes. Like the girls, the Trojan boys were out for the season sweep, as they squashed Kuemper Catholic 66-41 in their last meeting.

Sophomore Dayton Templeton, juniors Grant Sturm, Craig Alan Becker, and Garrett Reynolds, and senior Nile Petersen made up the starting lineup.

The Knights quickly grabbed control of the game, outscoring Atlantic 17 to nine in the opening minutes. Atlantic upped the ante, putting up 14 points in the second frame, but trailed 35-23 at the half.

Refreshed from the ten-minute break, the Trojans started chipping away at the 12-point deficit. The boys got themselves within six heading into the fourth quarter. Towards the end of the match, a couple Trojan boys got into foul trouble, resulting in the opposition cashing in on free throws. Atlantic kept with it, once again outscoring their challengers. However, the boys ran out of time and lost to Kuemper Catholic, 64-60.

Four Trojan players finished in double digits. Leading the pack was Templeton, who netted 18 points in Tuesday night’s contest. Right behind him was Petersen with 16 points. Becker chipped in 11 and Reynolds was good for ten against Kuemper Catholic. Templeton and Reynolds both had double-doubles, grabbing 12 and ten boards, respectively. As a team, Atlantic had 44 rebounds.

The next doubleheader will be Friday, Jan. 31 against St. Albert. The Trojans are on the road.