Girls basketball roundup: Rockets' late liftoff costly at State Farm

The Rock Falls Rockets slipped into a big hole early and couldn’t rally back in a 50-39 loss to El Paso-Gridley in Wednesday’s first round of the State Farm Classic at Normal Community High School.

Rock Falls (6-8) trailed 19-6 after the first quarter. Jordan Giddings had a team-high 12 points for the Rockets, while Rebeka Ehresman led El Paso-Gridley with 20. The Rockets play Kankakee Bishop Mac at 12:30 p.m. today.

Annnawan 68, Newman 47: The Newman Comets did not have an answer for Celina VanHyfte in a first-round loss at the State Farm Classic. 

VanHyfte made 12 field goals en route to a game-high 28 points. Teammate Megan Foes had 11 points. 

Mary Alice Oswalt led Newman (9-4) with 19 points. Rachel Hageman added 10 points. Newman will play Prairie Central at 2 p.m. today.

Erie tournament

Galva 55, Morrison 51: After a rough third period, the Fillies rebounded but couldn’t pull out a come-from-behind victory.

Galva turned a 24-20 halftime lead into a 14-point margin by outscoring Morrison (2-10) 22-12 in the third period. The Wildcats’ Alex Strom hit five 3s – three of them in the third – and scored a game-high 25 points.

Morrison’s balanced attack was led by Chelsea Eads (13 points), Ashley Greul (12) and Lakin Goodman (11).

Fulton 51, Mercer County 27: The Steamers jumped all over the Golden Eagles and led 31-14 at the half.

Morgan Wierema was 3-for-3 at the stripe and led Fulton (6-10) with a game-high 17 points, and Katherine Wayne and Morgan Sanquist added 10 apiece for the
Steamers.

Monmouth-Roseville 45, Bureau Valley 15: The Storm led 7-4 after one period but scored just eight points the rest of the way.

Nicole Bornsheuer led Bureau Valley (1-13) and tied for the game high with 10 points.

Rockridge 47, Erie 30: The Rockets won every quarter by at least three points to steadily pull away.

Paige Rus led Erie (9-5) with seven points. Miranda Potter hit two 3s and led Rockridge with 15 points.

Amboy tournament

Ottawa Marquette 63, AFC 23: Alisyn Essex scored 10 points for the Raiders in a loss to the Crusaders.

Marissa Gama scored 27 points to lead Marquette, while Kendall Kaufmann added 13.

Sarah Matson added nine points for the Raiders (5-5).

Amboy 42, Midland 33: The Clippers were able to recover from an awful third period on their home floor.

Midland outscored its host 16-2 in the third to tied the game at 29. Brooke Lovgren got Amboy (6-6) off to a fast start with 10 of her game-high 15 points in the first.

Kirstyn Ozga scored seven of her team-high eight points during Midland’s third-period comeback.

Wednesday’s stars

• Mary Alice Oswalt, Newman, 19 points

• Morgan Wierema, Fulton, 17 points

• Brooke Lovgren, Amboy, 15 points

• Nicole Bornsheuer, Bureau Valley, 10 points