Sweeping Belle earlier in the week on their home floor, Owensville’s Dutchmen and Dutchgirl basketball teams looked to duplicate that feat Friday night.

With Hermann’s Lady Bearcats and Bearcats in town, Friday night’s twin bill also meant that Gasconade County hardwood bragging rights were on the line in addition to it being homecoming.

Trailing 23-17 at halftime, Ryan Flanagan’s Dutchgirls kept clawing their way back towards the Lady Bearcats throughout the second half.

In the end, tying 3-point shots were turned away putting Owensville on the short end of a 48-45 defeat at the hands of the visitors from Hermann.

In a back-and-forth first quarter, the host Dutchgirls took a 10-9 lead on a put back at the buzzer.

Moments into the second quarter, Kyla Hendrix drilled a 3-pointer giving Owensville a 13-9 lead with 6:53 until halftime.

From that point on, the Lady Bearcats ended the first half on a 14-4 run giving them a 23-17 halftime lead.

Anna Finley paced the Dutchgirls with six first-half points.

Hermann senior guard Quincy Erickson answered Finley leading Hermann with six first-half points.

Making several runs at Hermann in the second half, Owensville was simply not able to get the lead back before falling to the Lady Bearcats.

Finley led the Dutchgirls with a team-high 16 points to go along with five rebounds and four assists.

Kyla Hendrix finished with a double double of 12 points and 10 rebounds in addition to two steals.

Kyla’s twin sister Keira finished with seven points, five rebounds and four assists.

Kate Angell his 3-point shots in the first and fourth quarters giving her six points for the game.

Skornia rounded out the Dutchgirl scoring with four points.

Erickson led the Lady Bearcats with a game-high 17 points.

Six proved to be a serious number for Hermann with Brianna Thomas, Elly Kruger and Winkelmann each adding six points.

Taking on Union’s Lady Wildcats on the road last night (Tuesday), Flanagan’s Dutchgirls will look for their second win of the season over St. James’ Lady Tigers tomorrow (Thursday) night in Phelps County beginning with a two-quarter junior varsity contest at 6 p.m.

Before the boy’s contest began, Dutchmen senior guard Trevor Abernathy was crowned winter homecoming king and senior cheerleader Emma Jahnsen was crowned winter homecoming queen.

Abernathy looked to help his Dutchmen teammates defeat the visiting Bearcats to split the Gasconade County hardwood twin bill.

Deadlocked 17-17 at halftime, foul trouble, turnovers and the inability to create offense led to Owensville dropping a 50-36 decision to the visitors from Hermann.

“Austin (Terry) played a great first half before a knee injury took him out of the game in the second quarter,” Dutchmen head basketball coach Todd Rehmert said. “In the second half, we got into foul trouble and could not score or take care of the basketball.”

Behind six points from Terry, Owensville took a 10-4 lead over the Bearcats after one quarter.

Behind five points in the second quarter from Derek Brandt, the Dutchmen were able to go into halftime in a 17-17 tie with Hermann.

Already with two fouls, junior post player Tyler Heidbrink was whistled for two quick fouls in the first :30 ticks of the third quarter.

“When Tyler (Heidbrink) picked up those two quick fouls, we had to go to a smaller lineup,” Rehmert said. “To Hermann’s credit, they took advantage by attacking the basket and the boards.”

Seeing the Bearcats catch fire in the second half, Owensville did not have enough of an answer on offense to keep up.

“I was pleased with how we came out in the second half in a very tough place to play,” Bearcat head basketball coach Josh Vinyard said. “Owensville took us by surprise in the first half and we were able to make adjustments at halftime in order to come out and win the game.”

In spite of leaving the game in the first half with a knee injury, Terry led the Dutchmen against Hermann with a team-high eight points.

Brandt followed closely with seven points along with five each from Cason Gray, Daxton Mehrhoff and Abernathy.

Rounding out OHS’ scoring with two points each were Brendan Decker, Macen Blankenship and Heidbrink.

Doing a lot of damage in the second half, Trent Anderson led Hermann and all scorers with a game-high 22 points.

Holden Ash overcame a sluggish first-half shooting from 3-point land to finish with 12 points for Hermann on four 3-pointers.

Seth Hackmann nearly made it a trio of Bearcats in double figures finishing with eight points.

On the road at Union last night (Tuesday), the Dutchmen will spend Valentine’s Day on Friday in Phelps County taking on St. James’ Tigers with a 6 p.m., start time.