01/13/06

A topsy-turvy contest that had 12 lead changes and 12 ties finally saw one team take charge as the Saints grabbed the lead for good with 6:12 to play and finished off the visiting Vikings, 101-93.

Six Saints reached double-figures in the game, led by Derek Johnson's 21 points and Andy Schmitz' 20.

William Maupins again played the strong, silent type for the Saints snaring a team-leading 9 rebounds, registering 4 assists, and coming away with 2 steals to once more play the unsung hero role.

The Saints had a woeful start in tonight's game, falling behind 13-2 after scoring the opening bucket of the game.

They steadily climbed back into the contest, tying things up at 18-18 and eventually opening a 7 point lead themselves.

Bethany Lutheran would wrest the lead back in the closing minute, though, to enter the intermission with a 3 point lead, 48-45.

The Vikings began the second half by stretching their lead to 9 in the opening minutes but once again, the Saints clawed their way back.

Beginning at the 14:49 mark, the lead changed seven times with neither team gaining more than a 3 point cushion. It was Maupins who grabbed a miss by Schmitz and put the Saints ahead for good with an easy layup at 6:12 to go.

From there, the Saints took control and went 8 for 12 from the free throw line down the stretch to close out the win.

St. Scholastica raised their conference mark to 2-1 and their overall record to 6-8 while Bethany Lutheran fell to 1-2 and 4-10 on the year.