Layoff works wonders for Rosary in win over St. Francis

Dave Beebe didn't know what to expect from his team Friday night at St. Francis.

"I'm not going to lie, I was nervous because we haven't picked up a ball since Monday," said Rosary's coach. "A lot of teams still practiced Tuesday, but we canceled everything. We couldn't find a gym."

Coulda fooled St. Francis.

The Royals hit 6 of their first 7 shots and rode that hot start to a 48-33 win on St. Francis' Senior Night at Spyglass Center.

"We knew they'd be fired up for their Senior Night, and we wanted to get off to a fast start," said Rosary senior Brenda Rocha, who knocked down two jumpers during the Royals' 13-2 start and finished with 13 points. "Our bench did a great job of pumping us up throughout the game."

Sophomore Madison Richmond made a 3-pointer and jumper in the game's first few minutes, and the Royals (9-14, 5-4 Suburban Christian Conference Blue) forced turnovers on three of St. Francis' first four possessions.

St. Francis (15-11, 5-4) pulled within 15-13 a minute into the second quarter, and it was 27-18 at half. But the Spartans never drew closer than 9, and the margin was in double figures almost the entire second half.

It was a far cry from the teams' first meeting, a 62-61 St. Francis win in overtime Dec. 7.

"We didn't expect to blow them out or anything," Rocha said. "We got them to play our game and not at a slower pace like they probably would have liked."

St. Francis was hurt by woeful shooting. The Spartans were 0 for 17 from 3-point range and also missed several makeable shots near the basket.

"We couldn't hit the broad side of a barn," Spartans coach Jeff Gerdeman said. "We haven't practiced in three days, and we were worried about that. I don't know why (Rosary) was hitting more than we were."

Fiona McMahon scored 21 of St. Francis' 33 points and also pulled down 7 rebounds. Fellow senior Kelly Reinke added 6 points for the Spartans, who play at St. Viator in a makeup game Monday and then end the regular season at home Wednesday against Montini.

"It was just one of those nights," said Gerdeman, noting that Rosary did nothing new from the first game. "We dug ourselves a hole, a hole we couldn't get out of. Hopefully, the kids can forget about the game."

Breann Maryanski had 10 points and 14 rebounds, Richmond 9 points and Courtney Bila 7 for Rosary.