Lady Eagles capture district crown
By JASON LAWRENCE/DAILY FORUM
The Jefferson girls’ basketball team poses with the Class 1, District 15 trophy following its 58-31 win over North Harrison Friday night. It’s the Eagles’ third tournament title of the season and their first district title since 2011-12.
The Jefferson Lady Eagles captured their first district title since the 2011-12 season in dominating fashion Friday night, beating North Harrison (19-8) 58-31 to claim the Class 1, District 15 title.
“It’s awesome,” Jefferson head coach Tyler Pedersen said. “I’m happy for the girls. I’m proud of them. They really elevated their game tonight. … They came in super focused.”
Jefferson came out on fire. After the Shamrocks jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead on a pair of layups from senior forward Cooper Sadowsky, the Eagles scored the next 10 points — including a pair of three-pointers from senior guard Brooklyn Stoll and sophomore guard Sarah Chor.
“We shot it well,” Pedersen said. “We shot 58 percent from the field, which is 20 (percent) higher than what we normally do. We were 6-of-10 from three, so that really stretched them and opened up some holes in the lane.”
North Harrison junior forward Haley Craig, who scored 25 points in the Eagles’ 51-46 overtime win over the Shamrocks on Feb. 3, ended the spurt with a pair of free throws.
“She put 25 on us last time, so of course she’s going to be on our radar,” Pedersen said. “Just emphasizing that she’s a great player and it takes all five girls on the floor knowing where she’s at, and I thought we did a better job of finding her and not giving her good looks.”
Jefferson freshman forward Josie Deen connected on a layup and sophomore point guard Kelsi McQuinn hit from downtown to extend the Eagles’ lead back into double-digits.
“Now people are definitely going to have to come out and cover us and just can’t focus on one player,” Pedersen said. “It’s going to help a lot.”
A buzzer-beating jumper from the right wing by North Harrison freshman guard Payton Craig trimmed the Eagles’ lead to 21-14 at the end of one quarter of play.
A pair of spurts — 6-0 and 5-0 in the second quarter helped the Eagles push out to a 34-21 lead at halftime.
Jefferson’s offense cooled off in the third quarter, but the Lady Eagles still outscored the Shamrocks 9-8 in the quarter as Stoll knocked down their sixth three-pointer of the night.
The Lady Eagles then opened the fourth quarter on a 10-0 run to all but put the game away, with the Eagles going up 53-29 with 3:06 to play.
“All of a sudden boom, we hit a three-pointer and got an and-one play,” Pedersen said. “That just helped extend things. It’s a tribute to the girls staying with it.”
A pair of free throws from Haley Craig ended the spurt and accounted for North Harrison’s only two points in the final frame. Jefferson scored the final five points to end their streak of back-to-back district runner-up finishes.
Chor finished with a game-high 12 points and McQuinn finished with 11. Stoll, Deen and junior center Jessie Henry each scored eight.
Sadowsky led North Harrison with 10 while Haley and Payton Craig added nine each.
Jefferson (26-2) will take on North Andrew, which won the Class 1, District 16 title 40-34 over Mound City Friday night in Graham, at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, March 3 at the Civic Arena in St. Joseph.
Jefferson has won all three meeting with North Andrew (23-5) this season, beating the Lady Cardinals 54-48 in the Platte Valley Conference championship game, 51-35 in the Stanberry Invitational title game and 55-52 in overtime in Conception Junction. All three meetings came in January.
“They have several players that are really going to give us a time, but I think we’re going into the game with a lot of confidence,” Pedersen said. “Anything can happen this time of year, so we just have to handle them with the respect they deserve.”
JASON LAWRENCE/DAILY FORUM
Jefferson freshman forward Josie Deen tosses up a shot in the first half of the Lady Eagles’ 58-31 win over North Harrison Friday night in the Class 1, District 15 championship game in Ravenwood. Deen finished with eight points in the win.
JASON LAWRENCE/DAILY FORUM
Jefferson sophomore forward Kayla Schmitz takes a jumper in the lane during Friday night’s 58-31 Class 1, District 15 championship game victory over North Harrison. Schmitz scored six points in the win.
JASON LAWRENCE/DAILY FORUM
Jefferson sophomore point guard Kelsi McQuinn drives in for two of her 11 points in the second half of the Lady Eagles’ 58-31 win over North Harrison in the Class 1, District 15 title game.
