Record-breaking night for Saints

By Kristi Nixon

ST. ANSGAR — The St. Ansgar girls’ basketball team set and tied a few marks and came a step closer to breaking another in the Saints’ 83-47 Class 1A Region 1 quarterfinal victory over Mason City Newman on Tuesday, Feb. 14.

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“Tonight, we played excellent basketball, the right time to do it,” Saints coach Scott Cakerice said. “We’ve got to take it on the road with us on Friday, see what we are made of. We’ve wanted this (opportunity) for the last two years. They may kick our butts, but I think our girls are competitive enough that we are going to play hard and see what happens.”

Madison Hillman set a new school mark for points scored in a single game with 34, breaking the previous mark held by Cari Cimmmiyotti (32). The Saints also tied the school mark for team points in a game with 83.

“It’s a lot,” Hillman said. “Getting that record is some momentum for the team and if it wasn’t for the team, I wouldn’t have made it, because I need those assists. I think everyone shot good and it opened up the lane for me. I think that is what got me the 34 points.

“That (team record) is also awesome. We just put our shots in and that’s what happens.”

The Saints travel on Friday, Feb. 17 to top-ranked and defending champion Algona Garrigan along with Iowa State University signee Audi Crooks, who Hillman has faced in AAU ball.

“I did good against her, I just played her up front and (they) try to lob it over,” Hillman said. “If they do, they do, but I try to keep them from getting the ball to her. That will help us a lot.”

Cakerice said he has film on the two playing against each other in AAU.

“They did some different things with Madison playing against (Audi) that caused her some problems,” Cakerice said. “Of course, AAU ball is different. We’re going to go and play hard.”

A more complete story with more photos will be available in the Feb. 22 print and e-editions of the Enterprise Journal.