Three Trojans finished in double-digits. Sarah Angel was her usual pesky self on defense, recording 4 steals. As a team, Community R6 was almost flawless from the line, converting 18 of 24 attempts.

Despite all this, the Trojans were no match for South Callaway, dropping the first game of their remarkable season 73-59 in the title game of the Sturgeon Tournament.

“Unfortunately we caught their A game, and they can really get it done,” said Community head coach Bob Curtis.

The Trojans struggled in the first quarter and ran a deficit in the second, as well. It was a 40-28 game in the Bulldogs favor at the break.

Community ran with South Callaway throughout the second half, but could not reel them in. Brianna Beamer would knock one down, Delaney Horstman would respond. Alexis Welch would sink it from the paint, Paige Clubb would answer.

Curtis observed that it’s hard to gain ground when Clubb, Horstman and Raegan Brown of the Bulldogs find their touch at the same time.

Clubb scored 29. Horstman added 17 for South Callaway and was a monster under the rim, grabbing 13 boards.

Yet the Trojans were not having a bad night.

“Not very often do you shoot it around 50 percent from the field and lose by double digits,” Curtis said.

Beamer led the way for Community with 18 points, with Sarah Angel hitting 16. Welch also reached double figures, scoring 11.

Emmi Johnson added 5 and Kayla Jett 3. Emma Hombs, Paige Meyer and Emma Angel dropped 2 each.

The Trojans are now 15-1.

Community knocks off Salisbury

It was a game where every shot was critical. That the Trojans eked out one more point than Salisbury in the first and two more in the second was important.

Outscoring the Panthers 15-9 in the third may have been what secured a 52-42 win for 15-0 Community R6 on Wednesday night at the Sturgeon Tournament.

And when Salisbury tried to foul in a desperate comeback bid in the final minutes, Brianna Beamer, Sarah Angel and Emma Angel combined to hit 8 out of 12 from the line to thwart the Panthers and put the final stamp on the semifinal game victory.

“Salisbury always has great girls teams,” said Community head coach Bob Curtis, adding that both squads share a high basketball IQ.

“It ultimately comes down to who is willing to dive for loose balls to save a possession, willing to take charges, and who gets a better first shot attempt every possession,” he explained.

With Hombs and Alexis Welch patrolling, the Trojans didn’t allow many second chances for Salisbury. The pair pulled down 13 rebounds combined.

Offensively Beamer put up 17 points and Sarah Angel knocked down 12. Welch contributed with 9 while Hombs hit for 4.