Warriors edge Xavier, shake skid

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Washington was slumping. Xavier was streaking.

Not any more. And not any more.

Class 4A ninth-ranked Cedar Rapids Washington made stops on its last four defensive possessions and edged No. 5 Cedar Rapids Xavier, 40-38, in a Mississippi Valley Conference girls' basketball game Monday night at Ron Thillen Gymnasium.

"We were pumped up. We really wanted to win this one," said Washington's Abby Herb, who had both of her steals in the game's dying moments.

"I guess it was instinct. I was going to go get that ball."

Washington (6-3 overall, 6-3 MVC) entered the game with a three-game losing streak, but the Warriors left with a half-game lead in the MVC Mississippi Division.

"Big win," said Washington Coach Frank Howell. "One thing that was hurting us (during the losing streak) was a discrepancy at the foul line. Kennedy shot 39 free throws, we shot 11 ... Waterloo West shot 47 free throws, we shot seven.

"If it happens more than once, you can't blame the officiating. You've got to make adjustments."

Xavier (11-3, 6-3) still enjoyed the free throw edge, but it wasn't as drastic. The Saints were 12 of 19; Washington was 5 of 10.

The Saints came in with a three-game win streak and eight victories in their last nine games. But they got off to a dreadful start, recovered to tie the game at the end of three quarters, then couldn't finish off the comeback.

"I'm disappointed," said Xavier Coach Tom Lilly. "But the way we started, we were fortunate not to have gotten blown out.

"We didn't have any purpose (offensively) at the end. We just grabbed it and chucked it."

Washington scored the first four points of the fourth quarter -- on a drive by Herb and a back-door cut by Danielle Franklin -- to take a 36-32 lead, and the Warriors held a slim lead the rest of the way.

Kayla Armstrong's steal and layup cut the margin to 40-38 with 1:49 left, and that's how it ended. Herb had a pair of steals, Armstrong missed a short baseline shot, then the Saints turned it over.

Tasha Roundtree missed the front end of two bonus situations, but Xavier couldn't capitalize. Katlyn Andersen misfired on a halfcourt fling with about 2 seconds left.

Andersen hit four 3-point goals and led all scorers with 14 points.

Franklin and Roundtree scored 10 apiece for Washington. Herb and Jazz Royster added six apiece, and Herb grabbed 10 rebounds.

Xavier scored just two points in the first 9 1/2 minutes as Washington jumped to an 11-point lead. It was 22-16 at halftime.

Washington hosts Linn-Mar on Thursday; Xavier is at Cedar Rapids Prairie on Friday.

C.R. WASHINGTON 40, C.R. XAVIER 38

At C.R. Xavier

C.R. WASHINGTON (40): Abby Herb 2-3 2-2 6, Madison Kramer 1-6 0-0 3, Jazz Royster 3-7 0-0 6, Tasha Roundtree 4-7 2-4 10, Danielle Franklin 5-9 0-0 10, Brooke Foreman 0-1 0-0 0, Kelli Klaus 2-2 0-2 4, Aleena Hobbs 0-0 1-2 1, Lauren Goodlove 0-1 0-0 0, Colby Bjornsen 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 17-37 5-10 40.

C.R. XAVIER (38): Kayla Armstrong 2-8 1-4 5, Annie Dale 1-3 1-2 3, Katlyn Anderson 4-6 2-2 14, Emily Walvoord 0-5 2-2 2, Alex Bartz 0-4 0-0 0, Nicole Noonan 0-0 0-0 0, Ashley Stulken 1-2 1-2 3, Lisa Boomgarden 1-1 2-4 4, Maddie Bertsch 1-3 0-0 2, Sarah Dickes 0-2 0-0 0, Hayley Deutmeyer 1-3 3-3 5. Totals 11-37 12-19 38.

Halftime: Washington 22, Xavier 16. 3-point goals: Washington 1-6 (Herb 0-1, Kramer 1-3, Roundtree 0-1, Franklin 0-1), Xavier 4-7 (Armstrong 0-2, Andersen 4-4, Dickes 0-1). Team fouls: Washington 19, Xavier 15. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Washington 26 (Herb 10), Xavier 26 (Bartz 5). Assists: Washington 6 (Herb, Roundtree 2), Xavier 5 (Stulken 3). Steals: Washington 12 (Roundtree 4), Xavier 10 (Armstrong 5). Turnovers: Washington 19, Xavier 17.

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