By: Joe Blystone
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
METAMORA (January 9, 2026) – Patrick Henry came into Evergreen listed as one of the best Division VI girls’ teams in the state.
The Vikings hung with the Patriots for 16 minutes, but an 11-1 third-quarter tally opened up the game, leading to a 45-21 Patrick Henry victory in NWOAL play.
The big and athletic Patriots took a lead 30 seconds into the contest on Ada Christman’s basket, but it would take over four minutes before either team lit the scoreboard again.
The Vikings Lanae Manz knotted it up with 4:20 left on a layup before Meyta Hieber regained a Patrick Henry lead 20 seconds later.
Three-pointers from Carys and Kynli Crossland opened a 10-2 margin early in the second but Manz answered with one from near the volleyball line to make it 10-5 with 7:20 to go in the half.
After another Hieber bucket, Manz connected again from long range to bring the Vikings back to 12-8 with 4:30 on the clock.
However, the Vikings misfired or turned the ball over the rest of the half, those two ills being long-lasting into the second half.
Patrick Henry took a 16-8 lead into the locker room, despite going just 7-25 from the field with 13 turnovers. Evergreen had 12 turnovers and was a frigid 3-17 from the field.
Those woes continued into the third quarter as the Vikings went 0-9 in that eight-minute span. Two Carys Crossland baskets from in close began a scoring run of 23-1 that lasted 12 minutes.
After taking a 27-point lead after three, the Patriots scored the first 12 points of the fourth to put the game away.
Ella Christman and Sophie Guelde each hit three-pointers as seven different Patriots scored during the onslaught that gave Patrick Henry their largest lead at 39-9 with 4:50 left before Addy Gleckler’s basket became the first Evergreen field goal in the second half.
The Vikings (6-6, 0-2 NWOAL) shot 7-39 for the game, while Patrick Henry warmed up in the second half, going 11-24.
The Patriots (10-2, 2-0 NWOAL) totaled 18-49 for the contest and cleaned up their turnovers in the second half, having only five. Evergreen had 22 for the game.
Carys Crossland led all scorers with 12 while Manz had 11 for Evergreen.