NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC senior Rylee Ridout puts up a shot against Grinnell. Ridout was honored on senior night for the Trojans.

STC girls basketball’s lone senior, forward Rylee Ridout, had a happy senior night on Friday, Jan. 16, when the Trojans beat the Grinnell Tigers, 39-34.

In the low-scoring affair, the Tigers jumped out to a 9-6 lead at the end of the first quarter, having led the entire way. But with back-to-back baskets by Ridout and sophomore Cahysia Kapayou at the start of the second quarter, STC took their first lead of the game, 10-9. The two teams fought back and forth to a slight Trojan advantage at the halftime break, 16-15.

After early second half baskets by sophomore Scout Ridout and junior Olivia Hala, the Trojans pushed their lead to 20-18. But Grinnell went on a 7-3 run to end the third quarter with a 25-23 advantage.

STC owned the fourth quarter, however, thanks in large part to Grinnell foul trouble. An immediate three-point basket by Kapayou gave the Trojans a 26-25 lead in the final quarter. But the Tigers kept fighting and went on a quick 7-0 run to lead 32-26 with five minutes remaining in the game. But having racked up fouls on Grinnell, STC started making up ground at the foul line. When Scout Ridout hit two free-throws with three minutes remaining, the Trojans had climbed all the way back to take a slim 33-32 lead. Less than a minute later, after Grinnell regained the lead, Scout Ridout hit a huge three-pointer to give STC their decisive lead of the game. A few plays later, Rylee Ridout secured the victory on her senior night by hitting two free-throws to push the score to the final tally of 39-34.

On the night, the Trojans were led in scoring by Kapayou with 12 points. She was followed by: Scout Ridout (10 points), Rylee Ridout (9 points), and Hala (8 points). Hala led the team in rebounding for the night with 9 boards. Kapayou and Scout Ridout both had 5 steals, while sophomore Stella Zmolek contributed 3 blocked shots. Rylee Ridout was honored at halftime of the boys varsity game as STC’s only senior on this year’s squad. With the season a little past the midway point, Ridout ranks sixth on the team in scoring, fourth in rebounding, and first overall in offensive rebounds.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC sophomore Stella Zmolek posts up against Grinnell.

Up next for the STC girls basketball team (4-7) is a trip to Williamsburg on Friday, Jan. 23. The Trojans’ next and final home game will be on Friday, Feb. 6, against Clear Creek Amana.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC sophomore Cahysia Kapayou drives to the basket against Grinnell.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC sophomore Scout Ridout defends against Grinnell.