Defense leads the way for SV in win over PHS

It looked like it would be a close game between the St. Vincent and Perryville girls at halftime on Saturday. However, that was until St. Vincent flipped the switch.
St. Vincent held Perryville to just seven second half points as they rolled to a 58-26 victory over the Pirates at the Perry Park Center.
It was the first win for the Indians in the series since 2018 (four games)
“The girls came out and played well,” St. Vincent coach Mel Kirk said. “We played good defense, especially in the second half. We moved the ball and got the open shot.”
The Indians were led by sophomore Haley Emmendorfer, who had 19 points, to go along with two others in double figures. Cailyn Prost and Lana Adams had 12 points That was a welcome sight for Kirn as leading scorer Allie Patrick was held to just five points.
“Allie did a lot of other things to help us win, especially on the defensive side, but it was nice to have others step up.” Kirn said.
Perryville jumped out to a 5-0 lead after baskets by Kyla Schnurbusch and Brooklyn Moll, but then the three-pointers rained in for the Indians, who hadn’t played in a game since Jan. 17. Haley Emmendorfer hit four in the first quarter, including one at the buzzer as St. Vincent led 18-8 after one quarter of play.
“Those were big for us and our momentum,” Kirn said. “Those really got us pumped up and feeling like we could win the game, despite the rough start.”
Perryville stayed in the game, partly on the strength of Schnurbusch.
The senior guard 11 points in the second quarter, including a trio of three-pointers. St. Vincent led 26-19 at half, with Schnurbusch having 14 of the Pirate points.

“Kyla kept us in the game until halftime,” Perryville coach Jason Dreyer said. “We came hot in the first quarter and then by the second quarter we had two or three girls with two fouls. We were battling foul trouble most of the night. To be only down seven with as bad as I thought we played. I thought we were in a good spot.”
Then the foul trouble mounted even more for Perryville as Schnurbusch and Moll, Perryville’s top scorers were forced to sit with four fouls apiece.
Kirn said Schnurbusch was the focal point for his team after halftime.
“Kyla is a very good player and the last two practices were very good for us,” Kirn said. “In the locker room I told the girls that we have to shut her down. We had to play tougher defense on her and when she shoots there has to be someone on her. She got her 18 points, but we held everyone else down too.”
Moll had five points and Rachel Riney had three for the Pirates.
Dreyer felt like his team lost its composure in the second half as the fouls began to mount.
“There were times we let things affect us,” he said. “I thought we let the environment and other situations affect the way we play and we can’t do that.”
Perryville made just two field goals in the second half, and didn’t score in the fourth quarter.
“When Brooklyn and Kyla were both out with foul trouble we struggled offensively,” Dreyer said. “We have to find ways to score points and stay in games when things like that happen.”
St. Vincent continues on their roll, that has seen them win five straight games.
“We have some tough games coming up, but if we continue to play like that, I like our chances,” Kirn said.