The Atlantic girls basketball team took on St. Albert and Harlan in Hawkeye 10 action, after coming up short to Glenwood on Thursday, Jan. 30. 

The girls travelled to Council Bluffs on Friday, Jan. 31 to compete against St. Albert, who was ranked #12 in class 1A. This was the second time the two squads met this season. In their last meeting, St. Albert was victorious, 56-48, despite a fourth-quarter Trojan rally. Since then, the Trojans went 3-2, with wins over Clarinda, Des Moines North, and Kuemper Catholic. The Saintes went 2-3, victorious over Red Oak and Treynor. At the time of play, both crews were coming off losses.

Juniors Taylor McCreedy, Haley Rasmussen, and Maycie Waters–along with seniors Corri Pelzer and Kenzie Waters–started for Atlantic.

In the first half, St. Albert worked around Atlantic’s defense, putting up 31 points. The Trojans were able to chip in 21 to be down by ten heading into the locker room.

The Saintes’ strong defense limited Atlantic to seven points in the third quarter. In the tail end of the competition, the Trojans scored 12 points. However, the damage was done and the girls lost to St. Albert, 59-40.

Rasmussen had a strong showing, netting 21 points on Friday night. K. Waters also finished in double digits with ten points. Defensively, Pelzer had four blocks against St. Albert.

With the loss, Atlantic’s record dipped below .500. The girls have won eight games and lost nine in their 2019-20 campaign.

The girls started off the week hosting the Harlan Cyclones on Monday, Feb. 3. This game was rescheduled from Friday, Jan. 17. Due to the postponement, this was the first time the two teams squared off this season. The Cyclones were 9-8 upon arrival in Atlantic. They were on a four-game winning streak, whereas Atlantic had lost two straight.

The same starting five began the game against Harlan.

After tip-off, the two teams were neck and neck. At halftime, the Cyclones had the edge over the Trojans, 26-24.

Following the break, Atlantic struggled to get back into the game. Fouls were costly for both teams, but the Trojans saw Harlan pull away in the third quarter. The Trojans were outscored 17 to six. In the final moments, Atlantic splashed in 16 points in their comeback attempt, but Harlan claimed the win, 64-46.

Against the Cyclones, Rasmussen led the charge with 16 points. McCreedy and K. Waters each finished with ten. As a team, the girls had ten steals and six blocks.

The Trojans will get another shot at Harlan on Monday, Feb. 10, just a week later.