JH Girls Lose to Lady Hornets
The junior high Lady Indians were defeated by a good teams from Dighton on Thursday, December 1. The visiting Lady Hornets proved to be a bit more experienced and gradually pulled away from the Lady Indians in both games played. St. Francis lost the A-Team game 22-43 and the B-Team game 17-25.
Dighton's McKenzie Whipple opened the contest with a deep shot from the left corner. Talexa Weeter answered for the Lady Indians on an out-of-bounds play (assist Kattie Wurm). Emma Johnson gave St. Francis a short-lived lead with a steal-two, but Whipple soon answered with a trey from the left corner. Consecutive free-throws by Weeter put the Lady Indians back in front for a few moments, but it would be the last lead the Lady Indians would possess. Whipple's baseline basket placed the Lady Hornets in front for good (6-7). A pair of free-throws, a right baseline shot by Whipple, and a post move by Emily Wilms, advanced the margin to 6-13. Jesslynn Houtman's baseline shot closed the first period with the Lady Indians trailing 8-13.
The Lady Hornets extended their lead to 8-17 on a steal-two and a fast break basket early in the second period. McKenna Poling's free-throw preceded Wilms' out-of-bounds play basket. The lead became double-digits (9-19). Talexa Weeter sank consecutive free-throws late in the half and Dighton closed with a steal-two by P.J. Suppes. St Francis trailed at halftime, 11-21.
The Lady Indians continued to fight hard in the second half, but Dighton's rebounding strength and defensive pressure made it difficult to trim into the deficit. Quick baskets by Traci Cramer and Whipple were followed by an offensive rebound by McKenna Poling. Dighton then reeled off a run of seven points to lead 13-32. Poling scored at the third quarter buzzer off an assist by Kattie Wurm to make the score 15-32.
Emma Johnson opened the final period with a free-throw, and Jordan Faulkender followed with a stick-back basket (18-32). Dighton then scored five unanswered points before Jesslynn Houtman made one-of-two from the line. Two baskets by Onesti McMurray and a pair of free-throws by Cramer increased the deficit to 19-43. The Lady Indians closed the game with a steal-two by Hadleigh Hilt and a free-throw by Amanda Neitzel. St. Francis lost the A-Team game to a good Dighton team 22-43.
Scoring for St. Francis in the A-Team game were: Talexa Weeter 6, McKenna Poling 5, Jesslynn Houtman 3, Emma Johnson 3, Jordyn Faulkender 2, Hadleigh Hilt 2, and Amanda Neitzel 1. The Lady Indians connected on 8 of 19 free-throw attempts. Dighton was paced by Traci Cramer with 10, McKenzie Whipple with 9, and Emily Wilms with 9. The Lady Hornets made 6 of 9 from the line.
The B-Team girls lead Dighton 6-4 after one quarter of play getting baskets from Lydia Jenkins, Rian Zimbal, and Amanda Neitzel. The Lady Indians failed to score in the second period while allowing Dighton to earn a 6-12 halftime lead.
In the third period, Dighton increased their lead to 10-18. The Lady Indians received baskets by Lydia Jenkins (2), Jesslynn Houtman, and Rian Zimbal plus a free-throw from Amy Jenkins; but the Lady Hornets also scored seven points to match the Lady Indians. St. Francis lost the B-Team game 17-25.
Scoring for St. Francis in the B-Team game were: Lydia Jenkins 6, Rian Zimbal 6, Jesslynn Houtman 2, Amanda Neitzel, 2 and Amy Jenkins 1. Dighton was led by Onesti McMurray with 10 points and Makenzie Doris with 9.
The Lady Indians will play Decatur Community in Oberlin on Monday, December 5.
