Even with his team nursing a three point lead with only 22 seconds remaining in regulation, Southwest Christian coach Darin Keizer was in his happy place.

“It’s my stress-reliever,” Keizer said of fulfilling his duties at the helm of the Stars after a 50-47 win over Holy Family Catholic on Tuesday night.

“It’s like, ‘hey, I’m going to the basketball court, it’s what I’m passionate about, it’s what I love,’” Keizer added. “I wouldn’t give anything else for hanging out with these girls for that hour and a half to two hours every day.”

Keizer doubles as the Southwest Christian Athletic Director, meaning that basketball practices and games are one of the few times he can simply focus on the task in front of him.

Tuesday’s task was Holy Family Catholic (3-2), and with the win the Stars maintain their unblemished record at 4-0.

At the center of the win was senior forward Elizabeth Schwarz, who’s game-high 19 points were a testament to her dogged work under the Fire basket, and the fact that she rarely took a seat during the game.

Sophomore forward Grace Conroy led the Fire with 11 points.  

“Losing a post player last year (former center Ally Krommendyk) and have (Schwarz) coming in to play more minutes for us, we talked about it,” Keizer said of the coaching strategy he worked with the Stars’ coaching staff on regarding when Schwarz piles up the playing time.

“We do kind of grind her to the bone on these nights,” Keizer admitted.

Balancing Schwarz’s clinic in the paint was junior guard Grace Schmidt, who nailed three consecutive three-pointers late in the second half, including a shot that kissed off the backboard.

“That was a complete accident,” Schmidt said with a laugh after the game. “I thought it was an awful shot.”

Schmidt acknowledged that the added defensive attention paid to Schwarz opened the door for her 14-point performance.

“When Elizabeth was having such a great game and they were doubling down on her, I (needed) to step up and had to help my team in any way I could, and that was shooting threes tonight,” Schmidt said.

Fatigue and extra defenders aside, Schwarz scored nine pivotal points in the second half, and drew fouls near the end of the game.

Schwarz said that the thrill of being on the court in the game’s waning moments helped offset the exhaustion.

“It’s fun to be (a part of) the momentum with the team,” Schwarz said.

“It’s more pressure at the end of the game, but it’s also more fun (playing) than to watch it on the bench.”

Would Schwarz ever admit to being too tired to stay in the game?

“Maybe…but probably not,” Schwarz said, grinning.

Senior forward Elizabeth Schwarz scored a game-high 19 points to lead Southwest Christian to a 50-47 win over Holy Family Catholic on Tuesday night at Holy Family Catholic High School. 

Junior guard Grace Schmidt added 14 points in the win for the Stars (4-0), and at one point made three consecutive three-pointers to stretch the Stars' lead late in the second half. 

Sophomore forward Grace Conroy led the Fire (3-2) with 11 points, and seniors Brooke Bowlin and Allie Spinner each added 10 in the loss.