Myers scores a season-high 19 in Tuesday win

FORT MADISON - HTC head coach Tony Johnson was pulling his hair out in the Crusaders' 40-38 loss to Danville back in November.

But the Crusaders found tamer grounds at home Tuesday night as they cruised to a 50-35 win over the Bears in Southeast Iowa Superconference North girls' basketball action.

Holy Trinity  had opened a 9-5 lead in the first quarter but then gave up a 7-3 run to the Danville girls to trail by three 15-12 at the end of the first period.

Danville's Kenna Furnald drained two three-pointers in the first quarter to spark the Bears, but Mary Kate Bendlage opened the second quarter with a 3-ball from the left wing to tie things up.

HTC then committed three turnovers on three straight possessions and gave up a steal on the fourth. But Danville couldn't take advantage of the miscues as they struggled from the field in the second quarter.

Bendlage then converted the front end of a one-and-one to give HTC a 16-15 lead, one they would only relinquish at a 19-19 tie with less than a minute left.

Presley Myers would convert on a rebound from a Bendlage miss just prior to the buzzer for a 21-19 halftime lead for the Crusaders.

Holy Trinity would expand the lead to ten 33-23 in the third period when Presley, who found her bearings under the basket in the second half, converted again.

The Crusaders would gradually pull away for the win with Presley, who had  a season-high 19 points on the night, causing problems for the Bears in the lane in the second half.

Bendlage led all scorers with 22 points.

Johnson said Bendlage will always get her points, but he was happy with the balance Tuesday night.

"We're trying to find balance. I know every night MK's going to get us 20 and that's awesome. I'm fine with that, but we need to find other players that get us 10 or 12 or four players with eight," Johnson said.

"It can't be so lopsided. If we can get Presley going, and Box going, and Reagan,  and Anna's making some shots, and Teagan's hitting some outside shots that's what we need right now."

He said the ball handling Tuesday was much better than Monday and the girls did better under pressure.

"The first half, and I keep preaching this to the girls, but if we run our offense and get past the first pass, somebody gets an easy layup or an inside shot. If not, then we don't take a very good shot," he said.

HTC improves to 6-5 on the year and 4-4 in the SEI Superconference South Division. They travel to 12th-ranked West Burlington on Friday night, before hosting Fort Madison on Saturday for the school's annual Cake Auction with cakes being auctioned off at halftime of both varsity games.