Winning at its finest keeps Lady Eagles on hot streak

By: Alin Hett

Maries County Advocate Sports Writer

Winning has a way of pulling people in, and on Jan. 22, the atmosphere inside the Vienna gym reflected exactly that.

The Vienna Lady Eagles entered the night riding momentum. After opening the season with three straight losses, the team has surged over the past two weeks, stringing together four consecutive wins against New Bloomfield, North Callaway, Blair Oaks and Stoutland. Three of those victories came against teams with winning records, and two of those games happened this past week, a stretch that pushed Vienna to 9-7 on the season and shifted the tone around the program.

The Lady Eagles played two games this past week, first knocking off Blair Oaks 47-38 before delivering a statement win over Stoutland, 71-63, that was a nail biter.

Against Blair Oaks, leading the Lady Eagles was Ella Hollis with 16 points, Aubrey Schwartze with 12 points, Scarlett Weeks with eight points, Liberty Rowden with four points, Delaney Schwartze, Aspyn Gorman, Macie Rowden scored three and Alexis Curtis scored one point from the line.

While both wins mattered, it was the Stoutland game that captured everything Vienna had been building toward.

From the opening minutes, the tempo belonged to the Lady Eagles. Vienna’s guards wasted no time pushing the pace, attacking early and often. Junior Ella Hollis and Delaney Schwartze set the tone, knocking down shots and forcing Stoutland to keep up. With two minutes left in the second quarter, Vienna had opened up a 33-22 lead, and it was clear the Lady Eagles were determined to control the rhythm of the game.

One of the quiet but critical factors was Hollis staying out of foul trouble. When she’s able to remain aggressive instead of cautious, her impact stretches beyond scoring. With the freedom to move off the ball, she becomes disruptive defensively and fuels Vienna’s energy. On this night, she avoided early fouls, something that hasn’t always come easily this season, and it showed.

With that, Stoutland refused to go away, and the game tightened late. With three minutes remaining, Vienna clung to a 60-54 lead as the noise inside the gym reached what Levi Stadium might reach next week. A timeout was called, and when play resumed, everyone in the building knew who had to step up.

Senior captain Aubrey Schwartze delivered the defining sequence of the night. After a Stoutland inbound, Schwartze came up with a massive block, then immediately pushed the ball ahead with an outlet pass to Gorman, who drilled a three-pointer to give Vienna a 63-54 advantage with two minutes left.

Stoutland responded with a layup, but moments later, the momentum took a sudden turn. With 1:20 left in the fourth quarter, Hollis was called for a shooting foul and fouled out, a call that stunned the Vienna bench and crowd and most likely would have had to have been sent to New York for review if possible. Stoutland capitalized, trimming the lead to six, then took four after another foul sent the Hornets to the free throw line with a minute remaining.

As the pressure mounted, Alexis Curtis made one of the most important plays of the game. After Delaney Schwartze was fouled and missed both free throws, Curtis battled for the rebound, securing possession and getting the ball back into Schwartze’s hands. At that moment, Vienna had exactly who it wanted at the line.

Schwartze calmly knocked down both free throws with under 10 seconds remaining, pushing the lead back to six and sealing the win. In the final two minutes alone, she recorded two blocks, a layup, a three-pointer and went two-for-two from the free throw line, taking control when it mattered most.

“In the last two minutes of the game, a switch goes off for me,” Schwartze said. “I know I am going to get the ball, I’m gonna shoot it, and I’m gonna make it. I feel like I do better under pressure and I thrive in the last two minutes of the game.”

After the game, Schwartze also took time to highlight her sister Delaney’s growth and confidence.

“She has not had a lot of confidence this season and I’ve been telling her over and over again to shoot,” Schwartze said. “Seeing her tonight, I’m super proud of her tonight and can’t wait for the rest of the season.”

The night carried more than just basketball significance. Between games, the gym was filled with activity, as Vienna hosted its annual Mini Cheer Camp for students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Throughout the week, participants learned cheers, jumps, basic stunting, tumbling and a short dance routine alongside the Vienna Eagle Cheerleaders. On Jan. 22, the young cheerleaders took the floor to perform what they had learned, drawing loud applause from the crowd.

“This camp is one of our favorite traditions,” said cheer coaches Carrie Kleffner and Kara Cohlmia. “It’s a great way to introduce younger students to cheerleading, teamwork, and school spirit, all while having a lot of fun! Just seeing their enthusiasm and the school pride it brings to our school makes the event a tremendous success.”

Adding to the energy, the Vienna band was also in attendance, playing between games for the first time all season. The music, paired with a packed gym and a high-stakes finish, created an atmosphere that felt bigger than a single night in January.

For the Lady Eagles, it was another reminder of how far they’ve come in just a few weeks. Four straight wins have brought confidence, belief and momentum, and on a night filled with pressure, noise and community pride, Vienna showed exactly why winning draws everyone in.

Link to article: https://mariescountyadvocate.com/stories/winning-at-its-finest-keeps-lady-eagles-on-hot-streak,259764?