Survival instinct: Saints outlast Panthers in 2 OTs
By Kristi Nixon
ST. ANSGAR — When St. Ansgar senior guard Aspen Falk picked up two quick fouls within the opening minutes of this Top of Iowa East Conference basketball game against Central Springs, little did she know that she would end the game after two overtimes with the ball secured in her hands.
She went from one point at half to a team-high 19 by game’s end, a 65-62 St. Ansgar victory on Thursday, Jan. 25.
“I did not expect that turnaround,” Falk said. “For my personal game, but also as a team. We stuck with it the whole time, which is awesome and really exciting. But, yeah, my personal game, I was kind of down in the dumps a little bit after the first two fouls, sad I couldn’t be playing.
“But everybody, once they got a chance to go in, they took advantage of it. Made their minutes count, and I think that’s what helped us win tonight.”
The Saints had a 4-0 lead only to see visiting Central Springs score nine unanswered to end the first quarter and eventually led by seven, taking a 19-12 lead into halftime with Falk on the bench for 10 minutes of play following her fouls. The Panthers extended the lead to eight with a three-pointer in the second half to go ahead 22-14 before coach Scott Cakerice’s team started to rally.
After the victory, Cakerice was honored for his 100th career head coaching victory, which came on Friday, Jan. 19 against North Butler. When asked about it, he demurred.
“I have good kids,” Cakerice said, “so, yeah (it’s from them).”
The full story, and more photos, will be found in the Jan. 31 print and e-editions of the Enterprise Journal
