South Tama freshman Scout Ridout (14) shoots over Union Community defender Reagan Glenn (23) during the second half of the Monday, Dec. 9 girls basketball game at STC High School in Tama. The Trojans ended a 46-game losing streak with a 34-28 win over the visiting Knights. PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER

TAMA — South Tama County girls basketball ended a 46-game winless streak on Monday, Dec. 9, with a 34-28 win over Union Community at STC High School.

It’s the first win of the season for the Trojans (1-3), and the program’s first win since a 37-35 win over Marshalltown on Nov. 22, 2022.

Sophomore Olivia Hala led STC with a career-high 14 points on Monday.

“We haven’t had much luck in the last two seasons,” Hala said, “but when we start to play with team chemistry, it really shows out there.”

Union scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to tie the game, 27-27, with 2:26 left. After the teams traded stops, Dyan Keahna got to the free-throw line for two free throws, and Hala came up with a steal on the ensuing inbound for a quick score to push the lead back to 31-27.

PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER

Union didn’t score again until the final seconds, as STC was able to hang on after already losing a couple of close cames this season to Marshalltown and Saydel.

“We rushed our shots [in those games],” Hala said. “I think when we calm down and get a good look at the basket, it really shows what we can do.”

While the Trojans have been roughed up in the WaMaC in recent years, STC also had seven games in their winless streak decided by five or fewer points, including the 52-49 season-opening loss to Marshalltown and a 47-42 defeat against Saydel last week.

“Every time it feels like we have a possibility of winning, something explodes and it all blows up,” STC coach Dina Keahna said. “So we don’t really talk about it. What I’ve always said is to play how you play and do what you can do, and whatever the score is at the end, we did what we needed to do. We’re just trying to get over that hump to put it all together.”

Dyan Keahna had seven points and Scout Ridout and Daelia Lasley added four points each. STC led 18-15 at halftime, with eight points from Hala.

“There’s always open cuts that you can use under the basket to get looks,” Hala said. “We were moving the ball around and passed it really well and at the end of the game when we can run out the clock, that just moves the defense even more.”

Dina Keahna added: “When you have a left-handed person, you want to utilize that skill and not turn away from it. I told her to keep going to that left side until they stop you, and then once they do, you know what you’re going to do with the ball after that.”

The boost of the win couldn’t have come at a better time as the Trojans were next set to face the 13th-ranked (3A) Stormin’ Pointers in a WaMaC matchup.

“Losing all the time can be a Debbie Downer,” Hala said. “So it feels good, and I just hope we can play with that same chemistry tomorrow and trust each other on and off the court.”

South Tama 34, Union Community 28

UNION (0-4) — Lily Lorenzen 2 0-2 5, Jailyn Petersen 0 1-2 1, Reagan Glenn 2 0-2 5, Neeley Hennings 0 0-0 0, Addie Pospisil 0 0-0 0, Reese Anderson 1 0-0 2, Josie Bergmeier 0 2-4 2, Brynn Albertsen 3 0-0 6, Taylen Smith 2 3-8 7. TOTALS .

SOUTH TAMA (1-3) — Olivia Hala 5 4-6 14, Aubrey Dolezal 0 0-0 0, Rylee Ridout 1 0-0 2, Azalee Morgan 0 0-0 0, Madison Hitchcock 0 0-0 0, Cahysia 1 0-0 3, Jaslene Lasley 0 0-0 0, Dyan Keahna 2 2-2 7, Scout Ridout 2 0-2 4, Daelia Lasley 2 0-0 4, Paige Croskey 0 0-0 0.

UNION 8 7 6 7 — 28

S. TAMA 4 14 9 7 — 34

3-Point Goals-Union 2 (Lorenzen, Glenn), STC 2 (Kapayou, Keahna). Team Fouls-Union 15, STC 15. Fouled Out-Pospisil.