South Tama’s Jessica Musgrave and Shae Slaven along with Center Point Urbana’s Raegan Dufoe chase down a loose ball during the conference matchup on Tuesday, January 10. CPU defeated STC 72-49. Chronicle Photo/Allison Graham

Last week was a tough week for the South Tama Trojans. The Lady Trojans faced Class 3A 5th ranked Center Point-Urbana on Tuesday, January 10. Two days later it was Class 4A 2nd ranked Marion coming to town for a makeup game. Both teams hail from the western division of the WaMaC conference.

Tuesday’s matchup between the Trojans and Stormin Pointers resulted in a 72-49 STC loss. It was the second time the teams have met this season. Their first meeting was on December 6. The Trojans lost by 30 (68-38). One positive take away for the Trojans were some improvements on the offensive end of the ball. Compared to their 30 point loss in December, the Trojans were able score more points on their end against one of the state’s premiere teams.

Thursday’s matchup between STC and Marion was just a tough one to take. The Trojans lost 74-25.

STC Head coach Sarah Mallen told the Times Republican following Thursday’s loss, “I told the girls, we just have to forget about this,” said STC coach Sarah Mallen. “We’re likely not going to meet this team in the postseason, and it can’t drag us down. We’re looking to finish third in our conference right now. That’s our goal. That’s our mindset. We have to keep going now.”

“I try not to get on them too much,” Mallen said. “Coming from a coach’s perspective, if you’re going to dog on your kids after a game like this, it’s going to sit with them. Going in there saying, ‘Hey, you guys gave effort. That’s all you can ask of your team. If they’re going to give 100 percent effort, and it’s still a game like that, there’s nothing you can really do. Just get motivated, and hopefully take this loss out on Vinton.”

The Trojans will be on the road this week to Williamsburg and PCM. The PCM matchup will be a boy/girl varsity double header. The girls will return home on Friday, January 27 to face Clear Creek-Amana (8-13). It will be the second meeting for the two teams. STC beat the Clippers 71-62 in December.

WaMaC West conference standings

Marion 12-1, 6-0

Center Point Urbana 12-2, 7-1

Clear Creek-Amana 8-5, 5-2

South Tama 7-6, 5-3

Williamsburg 6-10, 4-4

Benton 2-12, 2-6

Independence 1-13, 1-6

Vinton Shellsburg 1-14, 0-8