The girls basketball team defended their home court on Wednesday, Jan. 16 against St. Joseph’s Academy. Despite a slow start, the Tigers defeated the Angels 59-35.

The Tigers’ record improved to 20-2, while the game cemented St. Joe’s losing record of 5-11.

Junior Quierra Love, a top point-scorer on the team, thinks that keeping with the plays kept them in the game when St. Joe’s defense kept them at a scoring stalemate.

“We were very aggressive as far as attacking them in transition and getting them in foul trouble,” she said. “We stuck by each other even when they would go on a scoring run and communicated a little more.”

To get around the “very disciplined” team, Love and her team utilized each opportunity to score.

“We did a good job on defense of getting touches on the ball or steals which resulted in some fast break plays or an opportunity to get down in our offense again,” varsity player Jacquelin Anderson said.

The game was their second in as many days; the girls basketball team played an away game at Alton  on Jan. 15 and overcame them with a score of 76-19.

“Mental toughness and practice (will prepare us). We have to work hard to be ready for situations like that,” senior Megan Silvey said.

The Tigers, with a record now at 20-2, are looking to make it all the way to State. Last year, they got fourth. Two years ago, they got second.

“It’s going to be really hard, but if we all work together and work as a team, we should be able to do it,” Silvey said.

Now, the team is looking to build off this six-game win streak on Sunday Jan. 20 against Gateway STEM.