POCAHONTAS - The 14th-ranked (Class 2A) St. Edmond girls basketball team put the clamps down on Pocahontas Area in the middle quarters here Thursday on their way to a 42-30 non-conference victory.
Junior Alli Huss scored 13 points for the Gaels (18-2 overall), who were playing the day before their regular season finale with the North Central Conference championship hanging in the balance.
''We stayed pretty focused,'' SEHS head coach Scott Messerly said. ''We started a little slow, but our press really gave them problems and our defense was excellent - especially in the middle two quarters.
''Jaci Stumpf did an outstanding job defensively on (Hannah) Stafford, their leading scorer. She had a very solid, efficient floor game. It was a nice win to get and now we have to focus on the big one (Friday) against Iowa Falls-Alden that can clinch the league.''
The Gaels led only 10-6 at the end of the first period, but the Indians (8-12 overall) fell further behind when the defensive pressure increased.
Nicole Roetman led the Indians with eight points. Stumpf (eight points) and Anna Yung (seven) followed Huss' efforts.
Fact Box
ST. EDMOND 42,
POCAHONTAS AREA 30
St. Edmond - Alli Huss 13, Jaci Stumpf 8, Anna Yung 7, Hannah Lentsch 4, Maddie McCarville 3, Carter Waddell 3, Madeline Baldwin 3, Clare Flattery 2.
Pocahontas Area - Nicole Roetman 8, Hannah Stafford 6, Rose Meyer 6, Macey Bales 4, Sarah Williams 3, Ashley Radig 3.
St. Edmond, which is defending its 2011-12 NCC crown, welcomes the Cadets (12-6) for their regular season finale tonight at 6:15 p.m. A victory would clinch at least a share of the title, as Hampton-Dumont (15-3, 13-2) is still in contention. The Gaels are 15-2 in the conference.