St. Joseph basketball overpowers Westville

By Fred Kroner

St. Joseph’s eighth-grade girls’ basketball team had its best defensive performance of the season on Saturday (Oct. 14), overpowering Westville in a road game, 29-2.

Vivian Smith hit a game-high eight points. Both Ainsley Dirksmeyer and Megan Kearney netted five points.

Ava Alexander and Lyla Patton tallied four points apiece. Addison Knight contributed two points and Brooklyn Stevens added a free throw.

On Monday (Oct. 16), Monticello topped St. Joseph, 29-18.

Avery Lappin led the Panthers in scoring with six points. Dirksmeyer had five points and Smith ended with four points. Stevens made two points and Kearney contributed one pont.

Dirksmeyer dropped in a season-high 15 points on Thursday (Oct. 12) as the St. Joseph eighth-grade girls’ basketball team posted a 28-8 win at home over Paxton-Buckley-Loda.

She was backed by Kearney (eight points), Avery Haley (three points) and Stevens (two points).

On Tuesday (Oct. 10), the Panthers dropped a narrow 24-23 decision at Champaign Next Generation.

Smith netted a season-high 11 points for St. Joseph. Kearney tallied eight points. Dirksmeyer and Lappin each added two points.

On Thursday (Oct. 5), the Panthers lost a 37-19 decision at Cissna Park.

Alexander’s season-high 11 points were tops for the Panthers. Dirksmeyer, Kearney and Lappin all wound up with two points. Smith and Addison Knight each connected on one free throw.

St. Joseph (5-6) returns to action on Thursday (Oct. 19) at home against St. Matthew.