Lady Vikings defeat Monarchs in season finale

After struggling in their previous four games, the AHSTW Lady Vikings got back in the win column Thursday night at home defeating the Denison Monarchs 50-33.
“It feels really good,” said Freshman Kennedy Wyman. “We really wanted to move the ball, and I think we did just that. It really helped us a lot with our win.”
It took almost two minutes for either to score, but when the first basket was made it was courtesy of Vikings Sophomore Addison Carroll, which started a 7-0 run before Monarch Senior Mayah Slater ended the Vikings run getting fouled in the act of shooting, making the free throw to make it a 7-3 game.
Carroll managed to make another layup, followed later by a layup from Sophomore Kendra Hansen, and a mid-range jump shot from Wyman heading lead the Vikings to a 19-7 lead heading into the second quarter.
In the second quarter, it took the Vikings offense a little while to get going, but when it did, Sophomore Macey Goshorn made two free throws approaching the midway point of the quarter. Carroll made another layup, which was followed by a timeout from Viking head coach Jason McCall.
When play resumed, Sophomore Bella Lamp got in on the action hitting a mid-range jump shot. Slater made another layup just before the half, but the Vikings led 26-13.
“We’ve been in a lot of games this year where we’ve been on the other side down 13 where we’ve come back and made it a good game,” McCall said. “We know that people are going to bring it and have to step things up in the second half and you try to keep that same mindset the way you started the game, and they did a great job of that.”
Junior Viking Ava Paulsen made a 3-point shot immediately to open the third quarter, which trickled down through the Vikings lineup as Wyman and Goshorn were able to bank home 3-pointers, along with multiple Vikings getting to the free throw line leading 39-17 heading into the final quarter.
“They were getting open looks and they need to take shots,” McCall added. “You want to be dynamic and you want to make it tough on the defense. When you know the ball is coming to you and you’re going to be open, you’ve got to shoot the ball. That brings a lot of confidence too and it’s nice to see a couple go in.”
Carroll opened the fourth quarter with a mid-range giving her 12 points on the night. Following Carroll’s basket, Slater went on a tear where she made nine of the 16 points for her team, but the Vikings hung on for their seventh win of the season.
“I’m really proud,” Wyman said. “We’ve worked really hard as a team, especially with sickness and injuries and especially with losing five seniors that started.”
The Vikings wrap up their regular season with a 7-14 record with wins against CAM, Tri-Center, Missouri Valley, Underwood, and Red Oak. They begin regional play Saturday at home against the 5-15 West Monona Spartans in the Class 2A – Region 7 Game. The Spartans are led by Junior Ally Miller averaging 10.7 points, Senior Savannah Lucas averaging 6.8 rebounds, and Sophomore McKenna Baker averaging 2.6 assists.
“We’re going to have to get into a flow early in the game,” McCall said. “Our girls are a feel type of team where once they know and get certain about what’s on the floor, they have a lot of confidence.”