SCOTT CITY — The celebration was loud, emotional and well-earned.
After battling through a competitive first half, St. Vincent delivered a dominant final 16 minutes to defeat Saxony Lutheran 70- 38 in the Class 3, District 2 championship game Feb. 27 at Scott City, securing its second consecutive district title and third in the past four seasons.
For a program that finished second in the Class 2 state tournament last season and recently claimed another conference championship, it was another milestone in a run defined by consistency and championship expectations.
“It was awesome,” said St. Vincent coach Mel Kirn. “It’s tough to beat somebody three times in one year. We knew Saxony Lutheran was going to be ready, and they were. That first half, it was a really good ballgame. But our girls stepped up.”
The Lady Indians, who improved to 21-7, had to earn it early.
St. Vincent led just 12- 11 after the first quarter and held a slim 31-27 advantage at halftime, with Saxony Lutheran (10-14) matching their intensity and forcing a physical, back-and-forth game.
“We told them at halftime we had to be ready,” Kirn said. “They were going to give us everything they had."
What followed was decisive.
St. Vincent erupted for 24 points in the third quarter while holding Saxony to just seven, breaking the game open behind defensive pressure and efficient offense. The Lady Indians followed that with a 15-4 fourth quarter to turn a tight contest into a runaway victory.
Defense fueled everything. After allowing 27 points in the first half, St. Vincent limited Saxony Lutheran to just 11 over the final two quarters, forcing turnovers and converting them into transition opportunities.
“Excellent defense led into our offense,” Kirn said. “We only let them score 11 points in the second half. That’s what really made the difference.”
Senior Brie Rubel led the charge with 26 points, knocking down four three-pointers and delivering timely scoring throughout the night. Kate Rubel added 15 points, while Lana Adams contributed 12 points, 8 steals and 7 rebounds in an all-around performance that reflected St. Vincent’s defensive intensity.
Sophie Verseman provided a key spark off the bench, scoring 9 points and helping shift momentum during the decisive second-half run.
“The big one was Sophie Verseman,” Kirn said. “She came off the bench and scored 9 points, and it seemed like she hit them right when we needed them.”
St. Vincent’s efficiency showed across the stat sheet. The Lady Indians shot 51 percent from the field, assisted on 15 baskets and finished with 22 points off turnovers while holding a 40-20 advantage in points in the paint.
For the senior class, the moment carried special meaning.
“I can’t say enough about our seniors,” Kirn said. “They really stepped up. They’ve worked so hard for this.”
The victory added another chapter to one of the most successful stretches in program history. Over the past four seasons, St. Vincent has established itself as a perennial contender, combining conference titles, district championships and deep postseason runs.
Still, Kirn said the focus remains on what lies ahead.
“We started the year with three goals — win conference, win districts and hopefully make our way to state,” he said. “Now, we just take it one game at a time.”
On Friday night, the Lady Indians took another step toward that goal.
ST. VINCENT 75, KELLY 46
SCOTT CITY — Top-seeded St. Vincent wasted little time showing why it entered district play as the favorite.
Behind a dominant performance from Kate Rubel and balanced scoring throughout the lineup, the Lady Indians pulled away for a 75-46 win over Kelly in the second round of the Class 3, District 2 tournament on Feb. 25.
St. Vincent set the tone early, building a 16-8 lead after the first quarter. The Lady Indians expanded that margin in the second, outscoring Kelly 23-15 to take a commanding 39-23 halftime advantage. St. Vincent continued its push in the third quarter, erupting for 27 points to put the game out of reach.
“Our girls come out, we played hard, and all of a sudden it just started clicking,” St. Vincent coach Mel Kirn said. “It was 16 to 8 at the first quarter, and then we got 23 in the second. They just come out and played some good ball.”
Rubel led the way with 29 points, finishing 10-of-14 from the field and 7-of-8 at the free-throw line while controlling the paint on both ends. Rylee Robinson added 20 points, including five three-pointers, and Lana Adams contributed eight points and six assists as the Lady Indians placed four players in double figures.
“They just couldn’t stop Kate inside,” Kirn said. “When you get three or four girls in double figures, you should be right in the ballgame or win the game.”
As a team, St. Vincent shot 50 percent from the field, forced 21 turnovers and scored 26 points off those miscues while maintaining control throughout the second half.
For St. Vincent, the win marked another step forward in its postseason run.
“That was one step closer to going to state,” Kirn said.
