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Lady Vandals lose two games and star guard

HIGHLAND – The Lady Vandals were unable to earn a win at the Highland Tournament and will not play again until next Monday.

Hopefully, the time off will give them a chance to figure out their new offense.

Belleville West found many open shots and grabbed plenty of offensive rebounds during a 66-40 win against Vandalia on Tuesday.

It was the second game without sophomore point guard Megan Godoyo, who suffered a ruptured ACL and a torn meniscus last Tuesday during a home loss to Greenville and will be sidelined for about six months, causing her to miss the high school softball season.

Coach Michelle McNary said the injury was unfortunate and is a big blow to the team.

"That completely changed the way we run our offense," McNary said. "We're just out of sync."

With the regional tournament beginning on Feb. 6, the Lady Vandals won't have a lot of time to adjust, as they have just four regular-season games left on the schedule.

Still, coaches and players are confident that they can make a run at the regional tournament.

"I want to win a regional championship, so we're going to do that this year," said junior Amber Bruno, who scored her 1,000th point on Tuesday. "If we can work together as a team and pump the intensity, we can do it."

McNary added, "We can compete with any team in that regional, if we're playing right."

Tuesday, Jan. 17
at Highland Tournament
vs. Belleville West
Belleville West 66
Vandalia 40
VHS: 8-9-14-9—40
BW: 14-15-22-15—66
Points: Bruno, 12; Haley Wollerman, 11; Hannah Edwards, 9; Morgan Whightsil, 4; Morgan Cripe, 2; Kaitlyn Kershaw, 2.
Rebounds: Whightsil, 5; Edwards, 4; Wollerman, 4; Abby Dugan, 2; Bruno, 1; Cripe, 1; Kershaw, 1; Team, 1.
Steals: Edwards, 2; Bruno, 1; Haley Cothern, 1.
Blocks: Edwards, 1.
Record: 9-12

Saturday, Jan. 14
vs. Mater Dei
Undefeated Mater Dei had little trouble taking down the Lady Vandals on the first day of the Highland Tournament.

Megan Godoyo, sitting for the first game because of injury, was only able to cheer for her teammates on Saturday during a 74-20 loss.

The sophomore point guard had become one of Vandalia's go-to players this season, leading the team in steals and averaging nearly 10 points per game.

But the team had to move on, and that meant changing the rotation.

With senior Haley Wollerman back at point guard – a position she played most of last season – the Lady Vandals did what they could against Mater Dei, but the Lady Knights led by 17 after the first quarter, and did not let up from there.

Mater Dei had at least 20 points in each of the first three quarters, as they outsized Vandalia and picked up at least two offensive rebounds in each of those quarters.

Junior Amber Bruno, who needed 14 points to reach 1,000 for her career, was the leading scorer, with nine points, and senior Hannah Edwards and sophomore Morgan Cripe led the way in rebounding, with four each. Edwards also had one block.

Mater Dei 74
Vandalia 20
VHS:  5-1-8-6—20
MD: 22-21-21-7—74
Points: Bruno, 9; Wollerman, 6; Whightsil, 3; Kershaw, 2.
Rebounds: Cripe, 4; Edwards, 4; Bruno, 3; Kershaw, 2; Dugan, 1; Whightsil, 1; Wollerman, 1; Team, 1.
Steals: Bruno, 1; Kershaw, 1.
Blocks: Edwards, 1.
Record: 9-11

Vandalia senior Hannah Edwards watches a layup during a loss to Belleville West on Tuesday.

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