Irish break away from Warriors for title

Arapahoe sophomore Hope Koller drives against the North Platte St. Patrick’s Irish in Holiday Tournament finals action at Arapahoe Monday night.

Steve Towery/McCook Gazette

ARAPAHOE, Neb. — Shut out freshman Tona Heirigs and Arapahoe’s girls would have played North Platte St. Patrick’s even Monday night.

Yet Heirigs was the hero of this Arapahoe Holiday Tournament title game, scoring 22 points while leading a 58-36 Irish victory.

The visitors started fast and didn’t allow any repeats of a marvelous Arapahoe comeback in Friday’s semifinals.

Arapahoe outscored Wauneta-Palisade, 23-5, to finish a memorable 52-38 first win of this basketball season.

The Warriors (1-7) played a nearly-even first quarter as senior Terri Hilker hit an early three-pointer after scoring 21 on Friday.

Freshman Gentry Warner and Tracy Roskop both made two free throws to keep Arapahoe within striking range at 13-11.

Yet a 22-11 second quarter helped the Irish (6-3 record) start pulling away.

Heirigs tallied 12 second-half points to seal this tournament title.

Arapahoe still featured eight different players hitting shots while building momentum for the new year.

The Warriors will start 2020 with two home games against Maxwell Saturday night and Medicine Valley on Friday, Jan. 10.

Scoring summaries:

ARAPAHOE (36) — Terri Hilker 7 points, Emerson Swanson 6, Hope Koller 4, Emilee Hanke 4, Tracy Roskop 4, Hilary Downey 4, Gentry Warner 4, Danielle Eidson 3. Three-pointers: Hilker 2.

ST. PATRICK’S (58) — Freshman Tonya Heirigs led the champions with 22 points.