Vandalia girls drop third straight to Altamont

Not much has gone well for the Vandalia High School girls basketball team lately.

South Central Conference games against both Litchfield and Pana were canceled due to inclement weather last week, and then the Vandals lost to Altamont, 57-48, on Saturday.

In that game, Vandalia fell behind by 10 with 1:49 left in the first quarter and did not improve on that deficit by halftime, trailing 27-17.

Altamont scored seven of its first-half baskets on second- or third-chance shots, while holding the Vandals to just seven first-quarter points.

“I’m sure it didn’t help that we hadn’t played,” said coach Michelle McNary. “We keep letting teams get a lead on us and hang our heads.”

The Vandals (4-4, 3-2 SCC) have lost three straight after winning four of their first five games.

Vandalia played with more intensity in the second half, but it could not get a run of baskets, never cutting Altamont’s lead to fewer than eight points.

“We did OK the second half, but we traded basket for basket,” McNary said. “That’s not going to win you games when you’re down by 10.”

As a team, the Indians are strong at making free throws, so even had she wanted to, McNary would not have been able to foul them in hopes of catching up through missed Altamont free throws.

The Vandals will now put the loss behind them and prepare for the Mattoon Tournament, which they will start against the host on Monday.

“It’s a game I feel like we can win if we come out and play,” McNary said, “but we have to pick up our intensity on both ends of the court.”

At the Mattoon Holiday Tournament next week, the Vandals will play Mattoon on Monday at 11:30 a.m. and St. Anthony at 6 p.m., and Cumberland on Tuesday at 1 p.m.

On Tuesday afternoon, teams will play based on how they finished in pool play, and the winners and losers of those games will play in the championship flight on Wednesday afternoon and evening.

Makeup dates for both the Pana and Litchfield games are pending.

Saturday, Dec. 18
vs. Altamont
Altamont 57
Vandalia 48
Points –Amber Bruno, 17; Haley Wollerman, 14; Amy Walton, 5; Hannah Edwards, 4; Morgan Whightsil, 4; Megan Godoyo, 2; Abby Hickerson, 2.
Top Rebounders –Walton, 5; Whightsil, 5; Bruno, 4.
Record – 4-4 (3-2 SCC)
Altamont  19–8–17–13—57
Vandalia  7–12–13–17—48
JV –Vandalia lost 50-40
Up Next –  vs. Mattoon at Mattoon Tournament on Monday