Coming off back-to-back losses, the Lancers closed the Tracy Breakfast Lions Tom Hawkins Tournament and the 2022 calendar year on a strong note last Friday at Tracy High’s Swenson Gym

The Lancers struggled at the outset but raced past friendly foe Ripon 68-48 in the seventh-place game, and it took a career-best effort from their four-year standout to help right the ship.

Snaer amassed 36 points, seven rebounds, seven steals, four assists and a block after struggling with foul trouble the previous two games. East Union (11-4) lost to Golden Valley, a team it had already beaten twice in recent weeks, and Gregori. Against Gregori, Snaer scored 16 points in limited action and ultimately fouled out in the fourth quarter.

“It was rough, but we definitely knew we could do better,” Snaer said. “It wasn’t like we were doubting ourselves. We were like, let’s just come back the next game and get the win. We can’t (lose) three times in a row.”

Ripon came out firing to start, rolling to a 14-4 lead. Snaer kept the Lancers in the game, accounting for the majority of her team’s points in the first half. They trailed 34-31 at the break, and Snaer scored 17.

She was just getting started.

East Union surged ahead with 4:41 left in the third quarter when Snaer drew an and-1 foul after forcing a turnover and scoring on the other end with a layup. The Lancers ended the period on a 13-0 run and led 50-38. Snaer tallied the final seven points of that flurry.

Overall, she made seven of 10 free throws and drained three 3-pointers. For the tournament, she averaged 19.8 points in four games.

East Union assistant coach Rick Marsh said it was only a matter of time that she busted out in a big way.

“She was ready to explode,” he said after the contest. “Her shot has been looking better and better. I knew she was going to have a game like this, and today was that game.”