?Sluggish? Van Buren blows out Holy Trinity

KEOSAUQUA ? Van Buren head coach Matt Zeitler didn?t think he received the best effort from his team Tuesday evening, but for the undefeated Warriors, it didn?t really matter against Holy Trinity.

There wasn?t a shortage of exertion on the defensive end, however, as 11th-ranked Van Buren (14-0, 11-0 SEISC south) powered its way to a 48-27 victory. Holy Trinity (2-12, 2-9) managed a meager 13 points through three quarters of play before putting up 14 in the fourth quarter.

?Our defense has been there for us all year, and it was again tonight,? Zeitler said. ?Everything else was a little slow, but we?ll be alright, and I know we?ll play better at Pekin Thursday.?

Thursday?s trip to Packwood will be a non-conference tilt with the 11-3 Panthers.

Makenzie Zeitler neared a quadruple-double finishing with 14 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists and nine steals.

The Warriors clung to an 8-7 lead heading into the second quarter, but opened the period on a 15-2 run fueled by Jessica Saunders and Hannah Haynes. Saunders came up with an offensive rebound and put in final-second bucket to make the score 25-12 at intermission. Saunders scored 10 points in the first half.

Following the break, the Crusaders were held scoreless for nearly the entire period ? a free throw from Jenna Freesmeier being the lone point coming with just 21 ticks left on the clock. In all, Van Buren held Holy Trinity without a field goal for nearly nine minutes of the second half.

Meanwhile, the deficit was quickly inflated to more than 20 points, and Van Buren rolled the rest of the way. Saunders was back at it with two quick buckets to start the second half and finished with a game-high 16 points. Hannah Haynes scored 10 points with 15 boards and Kassie Myers added four points and 11 rebounds.

For complete story, read the Wednesday, January 19, 2011 Fairfield Ledger.