Tom Lilly Appreciation Night is another winning night for Cedar Rapids Xavier

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Tom Lilly Appreciation Night could have turned into a massive bummer.

His team refused to let it happen.

Libby Fandel’s 25 points led an attack that sent four players into double figures, and Class 4A eighth-ranked Cedar Rapids Xavier battled past Cedar Rapids Washington, 73-62, in a Mississippi Valley Conference girls’ basketball game Friday night at Ron Thillen Gymnasium.

“It was very physical, and it wasn’t our best,” Fandel said. “But we proved ourselves at the end, and we’re getting better.”

Friday’s outcome -- coupled with Iowa City West’s loss at Iowa City High -- moved Xavier (12-4 overall, 7-2 MVC) into a share of first place in the Mississippi Division, along with Iowa City Liberty (12-3, 7-2).

West (10-6, 6-2) is a half-game back.

Xavier concludes the regular season against the other two contenders -- at Liberty on Feb. 11 and at home against West on Feb. 14.

Lilly, in his 40th and final year in a coaching career that has included more than 600 victories, 17 state-tournament appearances and five championships, was honored during halftime of the boys’ game Friday.

“We were rattled at halftime,” he said. “(Washington was) doing things we weren’t prepared for. I think they were hungrier than we were and had more to prove.”

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The game featured 44 fouls. Xavier was 24 of 31 from the free-throw line; Washington (7-8, 5-3) was 16 of 24.

Washington erased a 12-point first-half deficit and briefly led in the third quarter. But a 10-0 Xavier run sprung the Saints free for good.

Xavier took a 55-43 advantage into the fourth quarter. Washington got within five points on four occasions before the Saints clinched it at the free-throw line.

The Saints have won four straight games.

“I think we’re playing together better right now,” said Madden Wilson, who added 17 points.

Freshman Samantha Dorrity provided 13 points off the bench, and Reese Komenda tallied 10.

As is usually the case, the focus was on Fandel, a University of Kansas signee. In addition to her 25 points (including 12 of 13 from the line), Fandel collected 10 rebounds, five assists and six steals.

“When it’s physical, you’ve got to keep playing your game and cheer each other up,” she said.

Samantha Becker led Washington with 21 points and eight rebounds. Elysionna Westerfield added 18 points.

Xavier put together a 15-1 run for an early 18-6 lead, but Washington got even at 30-30 at halftime.

The Warriors led 34-32 and 36-35, but a pair of 3-pointers by Wilson put the Saints ahead to stay.

BOYS: Cedar Rapids Xavier 63, Cedar Rapids Washington 36

Class 3A ninth-ranked Xavier (9-4) never trailed, building a 15-4 lead after the first quarter.

A.J. Evans paced the Saints with 17 points. Kaleb Wilgenbusch added 14, Zander Murray 12.

Halbert Jackson scored eight points to lead Washington (5-9).

Cedar Rapids Xavier 73, Cedar Rapids Washington 62

At C.R. Xavier

C.R. WASHINGTON (62): Elysionna Westerfield 6-13 5-6 18, Samantha Becker 8-21 5-6 21, Lily Belle Barker 1-4 0-0 3, Sira Doumbia 2-5 1-4 5, Hailey Becker 0-1 3-4 3, Gabi Pedroso 0-0 0-0 0, Jayla Strong 3-9 2-2 8, Tashi Fields 1-3 1-2 4, Jamiah Malone 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-57 16-24 62.

C.R. XAVIER (73): Madden Wilson 5-10 4-7 17, Jaselle Lang 0-1 1-2 1, Taylor Rexroth 2-4 0-0 5, Libby Fandel 6-14 12-13 25, Reese Komenda 5-6 0-0 10, Cayleigh O’Brien 1-5 0-0 2, Samantha Dorrity 3-5 7-9 13. Totals 22-45 24-31 73.

C.R. Washington 14 16 13 19 -- 62

C.R. Xavier 20 10 25 18 -- 73

3-point goals: Washington 4-15 (S. Becker 0-1, Barker 1-3, Westerfield 1-5, Strong 1-4, Fields 1-2), Xavier 5-15 (Wilson 3-5, Rexroth 1-2, Fandel 1-4, O’Brien 0-2, Dorrity 0-1). Team fouls: Washington 23, Xavier 21. Fouled out: Westerfield, Rexroth. Rebounds: Washington 32 (S. Becker 8), Xavier 36 (Fandel 10). Assists: Washington 8 (Barker, Westerfield, Strong 2), Xavier 12 (Fandel 5). Steals: Washington 11 (Westerfield, Strong 3), Xavier 13 (Fandel 6). Turnovers: Washington 17, Xavier 19.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com