Angels Believe Third Time Is A Charm

Farmington-This time around, St. Joseph’s basketball coach Julie Matheny is taking up the belief ‘third time’s a charm.’

“At least I hope so,” she said, moments after her Angels mopped up Jackson, MO 54-21 in the Class 5 regional game at the Farmington Civic Center.

St. Joe moves on to the state Class 5 quarterfinals against foe and nemesis Incarnate Word Academy Saturday at UM-St. Louis at six o’clock.

Dan Rolfes has cast a spell upon the Angels of late. The Angels fell to IWA three times last year including the state tournament, and they lost twice to the Red Knights this year. The first was a 46-41 cliff hanger December 28 in the finals of the Visitation Academy Christmas tournament. On January 28 before another packed house, the Knights won at home, 50-45.

Junior center Sydney Stipanovich is excited to face IWA once again. Stipanovich, who scored 21 points in the win over Jackson had this to say: “We’ve been dreaming about winning the state tournament since last year. This is the last time around for our seniors Maddie and Morgan Stock (both headed to Mizzou).

They (IWA) are our conference rivals. We are so excited to play them again.”

Matheny is there too. “Its great for St. Louis basketball to see these two teams meet again. We just hope our players rise to the occasion,” she said.

Matheny likes to place her girls on the big stage. The Farmington Civic Center seats some 3,000 people, though the crowd was no where near that Wednesday night.

“it’s good to play on the big floors in front of the big crowds. This gives our team a better chance to understand depth perception from playing in smaller gyms.” She was thinking about the Mark Twain Center Saturday, and even perhaps Mizzou Arena (for the Show-Me Showdown weekend) in Columbia.

Jackson had all kinds of problems. The Indians scored just nine second half points. The taller, more agile Angels swatted away shots like they were flicking of mosquitoes.

Jackson converted just seven of 35 attempts from the field.

In the 33 point win, Erin Nelson pulled down 11 rebounds and Stipanovich 10. Morgan Stock scored 11 points, Maddie Stock 10 as Matheny subbed liberally throughout the game. Once again, the Mercy rule ended the game quickly with the big St. Joe lead.

Dru Haertling was high scorer for Jackson with just 8 points.

Matheny was just happy to win again.”Oh yea, tjhey played hard and we worked hard to get the lead into double digits. I just kept waiting for them to press us full court. They never did."

Matheny has this thing about playing teams in red. “I hate red,” she said. Seems like the opponents are always wearing red like Ursuline and Cor Jesu and Jackson and the red and gold Knights of IWA.

Green is her color of choice. Naturally, that would be St. Joe.