VIENNA — The Vienna High School girls basketball team traveled to Russellville on Nov. 20, for their first game of the season, taking on the Lady Indians in a loud, energized gym. While the Lady Eagles fought hard, Vienna fell 49-56 in a game that saw momentum swing back and forth before ultimately tipping in favor of the home team.

Senior Aubrey Schwartze was a standout on both ends of the floor, showing why she is considered one of the top two-way players in the conference. Schwartze posted a double-double with 26 points while adding a pair of blocks that kept Vienna competitive throughout the contest.

Co-captain Ella Hollis was right behind with 11 points, providing stability and leadership on a team navigating a tough first away game. Delaney Schwartze and Aspyn Gorman each added two points in the third quarter, Macie Rowden scored two, Liberty Rowden added two from the free-throw line, Scarlett Weeks contributed four and Alexis Curtis chipped in two points.

The Lady Eagles are a young squad, mostly composed of freshmen and sophomores, with Hollis and Schwartze leading the charge. The team is still figuring out who will step into the third leadership spot, but the energy and potential are already evident.

The team struggled to find consistency in the first half, but a spark emerged after halftime. A quick 8-0 run tied the game at 25-25, sparked by two three-pointers from Aubrey Schwartze and a layup from Weeks. That stretch gave Vienna their first burst of life in the game and showed the team’s resilience under pressure.

As the contest wore on, frustration grew with the officiating. While the calls that were made were correct, some key opportunities went uncalled, leading to fouls done by the the Lady Eagles. Hollis fouled out late in the third quarter, as well as other Lady Eagles who ended up in foul trouble, leaving Vienna shorthanded in the rotation when the game came down to the final minutes.

Despite the loss, captain Aubrey Schwartze reflected on her experience as she starts her senior season and the effort the team displayed.

“I am so excited this season, but I am also very sad,” she said. “This is just the first game, I know this team is great and over the season, we’re gonna what we’re made of.”

Vienna’s Lady Eagles now look ahead to their games next against Fatima and New Bloomfield, both are away, hoping to build on the flashes of brilliance from their opening contest.