Lady Tigers advance to sectional final, defeat Jackson
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
FRANKFORT - The McClain Lady Tigers forced turnover after turnover early in the Division II SE District Sectional semifinal, as they defeated Jackson High School 57-42 Wednesday night at Adena High School.
In the opening quarter, the Lady Tigers missed their first three free throw attempts but came back to score the game's first points with a free throw by senior Kate Hammond, after she gained an offensive rebound and was fouled.
MHS (17-3) gained a 3-0 lead after senior Cortney Hyer, who stole the basketball, found open senior Shelby Buck for two points.
Jackson's Nicole Chapman scored on a put back for JHS, but Hammond was there to answer with two points. MHS senior Megan Saylor gave MHS a five-point lead with points off a turnover.
With 5:00 left in the first Chapman kept JHS in the game with two points from the free-throw line, but again the Lady Tigers rallied for four points from Saylor and junior Chrissy Cobb for a 11-4 advantage.
With JHS inching closer with four points near the 3:00 mark of the opening quarter, coming within two points of tying game, the Lady Tigers answered with points off a Jackson turnover.
JHS continued to battle in the first with a late bucket to make the score 13-11, but Saylor scored her sixth point of the quarter for a 15-11 MHS advantage.
MHS dominated the second frame, outscoring the Ironladies 15-5.
McClain started off the second with a layup from Buck, but her points were equalled by Kelsey Martin to keep JHS within four points of tying the game early in the quarter. Martin finished with a team-high 14 points.
Then MHS showed why they gained 16 wins in the regular season.
The Lady Tigers went on a 13-3 tear with points from Hammond, Kate Crabtree, Cobb (a 3-pointer) and sophomore Jenna Perie for a halftime lead of 30-16. Cobb finished with 11 points. Perie finished the game with nine rebounds (six offensive), four assists and three points.
Jackson had 13 turnovers in the first half. The Lady Tigers committed two fouls in the first 16 minutes, eight in the entire game.
The third frame started off with Cobb scoring a layup, but it was Jackson who answered with a jumper from Chapman.
Saylor sank two straight free throws, and later in the quarter, Saylor gave MHS a 36-19 advantage with a long-range jump shot near the six minute mark of the third.
Hammond, who scored a game-high 20 points, increased the Lady Tigers' lead to 38-20 with 5:00 remaining in the third.
After quick points by JHS, MHS answered with points from Cobb and Hammond. The 44-24 lead by the Lady Tigers came with a steal by Frankie Wise, followed with Perie finding Cobb with inside points with under two points to go in the third. MHS ended the third with a 44-28 lead.
The Lady Tigers had the game well in hand in the final frame but started off the fourth with two straight turnovers, which turned into four straight points for JHS, cutting the Lady Tiger advantage to 44-32.
MHS committed their third turnover within a span of 1:10, turning into another point for JHS from the free throw line.
Saylor reached the foul line for MHS to score their first points of the quarter, putting MHS ahead 45-33.
Chapman continued to battle the Lady Tigers, scoring two points off transition, forcing MHS to call a time out in the middle stages of the final frame after MHS committed five turnovers in the same time frame.
Hammond responded with consecutive jumpers to put MHS up by 15 points at 50-35. Later in the quarter Hammond scored her sixth straight point near the four minute mark to give the Lady Tigers a 52-35 advantage.
Jackson came closer to MHS with a 3-pointer by Martin to make the score 53-42 in the latter stages of the fourth.
Hammond, who had five rebounds, sank her sixth free throw of the game to extend the Lady Tigers' 55-42 advantage, followed with Saylor scoring points to give MHS a 15-point lead. Saylor finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.
McClain out rebounded JHS 32-16.
McClain out rebounded JHS 32-16.
The win lifts MHS to 17-3 overall.
MHS will now play in the sectional final Saturday afternoon as they will face the winner of the Unioto vs. Circleville game Thursday night at Adena High School. The sectional final will be at AHS with a tipoff scheduled at 1 p.m.
BOX SCORE
SCORE BY QUARTERS
JHS - 11 5 12 14 - 42
MHS - 15 15 14 13 - 57
INDIVIDUAL STATS
MHS (57)
Cobb 5 11, Saylor 5 4 14, Hammond 7 6 20, Crabtree 1 1 3, Buck 2 2 6, Perie 1 1 3. TOTALS: 20 (1) 14-23 57.
JHS (42)
S.Martin 1 0 2, K.Martin 1 (1) 2 7, Chapman 6 2 14, Geiger 2 1 5, Harless 4 1 10, Shasteen 2 0 4. TOTALS: 15 (2) 6-12 42.
[[In-content Ad]]INDIVIDUAL STATS
MHS (57)
Cobb 5 11, Saylor 5 4 14, Hammond 7 6 20, Crabtree 1 1 3, Buck 2 2 6, Perie 1 1 3. TOTALS: 20 (1) 14-23 57.
JHS (42)
S.Martin 1 0 2, K.Martin 1 (1) 2 7, Chapman 6 2 14, Geiger 2 1 5, Harless 4 1 10, Shasteen 2 0 4. TOTALS: 15 (2) 6-12 42.