Xavier allows 9 second-half points in opening win over Assumption

CEDAR RAPIDS — On a basketball court, Libby Fandel can do nearly everything.

If opening night was any indication, though, she won’t have to do it all.

Reese Komenda provided a spark in her first start, and Class 4A 12th-ranked Cedar Rapids Xavier allowed nine second-half points and ran away from Davenport Assumption, 55-31, in a non-conference encounter Tuesday night at Ron Thillen Gymnasium.

“In most team sports, defense will carry a team until the offense catches up,” Xavier Coach Tom Lilly said.

The only returning starter from last year’s state-tournament team, Fandel posted 29 points, nine rebounds, three assists and four steals.

“I can definitely can a shot quicker this year, and I think I’ve expanded my range,” said Fandel, an athletic 6-foot junior and a two-time first-team all-stater.

Still, she can’t do it alone. And Tuesday, that wasn’t necessary.

  Buy Photo

Komenda added 13 points and was a focal point of the Saints’ defensive effort.

“She’s a soccer player, so she knows what it’s like to move her feet,” Lilly said. “Hopefully, it’s contagious.”

A sophomore, Komenda admitted to pregame nerves.

“A little nervous, yeah,” she said. “But I shot well, and that increased my confidence a little bit. My teammates were hyping me up.”

Fandel scored 12 first-quarter points as Xavier (1-0) shot to a 14-5 lead, and the margin got as large as 11 points twice before Assumption (0-2) got within 25-22 at halftime.

The Saints scored the first 14 points of the second half to blow it open, then added an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter.

Maddy Nigey paced Assumption with 10 points. The Knights committed 28 turnovers, 13 of which came directly from Xavier steals.

Cedar Rapids Xavier 55, Davenport Assumption 31

At C.R. Xavier

DAVENPORT ASSUMPTION (31): Gabby Stoffregen 0-2 0-0 0, Lexi Hayes 3-5 0-2 6, Holly Jondle 2-9 0-0 4, Maddy Nigey 4-9 1-2 10, Anna Timmons 1-3 1-1 3, Emmy Burkhart 1-4 0-0 3, Erin Robbins 0-1 1-2 1, Allie Casel 0-0 0-0 0, Charlotte Nigey 0-0 4-4 4, Belle Stoffregen 0-0 0-0 0, Camryn Menke 0-0 0-0 0, Lauren Logan 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 11-34 7-11 31.

C.R. XAVIER (55): Carley Jonker 1-7 0-0 2, Taylor Rexroth 1-5 3-4 5, Libby Fandel 11-23 2-2 29, Ava Turner 0-0 3-4 3, Reese Komenda 5-11 2-2 13, Jaselle Lang 1-5 0-0 3, Cayleigh O’Brien 0-1 0-0 0, Katie Pilcher 0-1 0-0 0, Maizey Fisher 0-0 0-0 0, Keke Harbeck 0-0 0-0 0, Brooklyn Emerson 0-0 0-0 0, Gianna Pino 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-54 10-12 55.

Davenport Assumption 5 17 4 5 — 31

C.R. Xavier 14 11 17 13 — 55

3-point goals: Assumption 2-10 (G. Stoffregen 0-1, Hayes 0-1, Jondle 0-1, M. Nigey 1-2, Timmons 0-1, Burkhart 1-3, Robbins 0-1), Xavier 7-16 (Rexroth 0-4, Fandel 5-7, Komenda 1-2, Lang 1-3). Team fouls: Assumption 15, Xavier 14. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Assumption 31 (Jondle 6), Xavier 29 (Fandel 9). Assists: Assumption 5 (Hayes 2), Xavier 12 (Fandel, Komenda 3). Steals: Assumption 8 (Hayes, Timmons 2), Xavier 13 (Fandel 4). Turnovers: Assumption 28, Xavier 12.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com