Osgood Journal Sports
December 27, 2005

Tensions build for the Lady Eagles

Gary Franklin - Sports Writer

Both the Jac-Cen-Del Varsity and Reserve Lady basketball teams advanced their season's record to 9-0 on Tuesday night, December 20, at South Decatur in competition against the Lady Cougars.

The Lady Eagle Varsity won by the score of 50-43, but not without a scare.

Prior to the game, Kiersten Young had received a knee injury that made her iffy, and last week senior Amanda Harmeyer broke her foot, limiting the depth of the Lady Eagle bench.

However, on arriving for the game, Young was on the court warming up with the team, and junior Emily Einhaus was standing with the assistance of crutches along team mate Harmeyer likewise on crutches. That was not an expected sight, and as the game progressed, seemed to not be the only shock of the evening.

The Lady Cougars controlled the center court jump to start the game, but could not capitalize. Lady Eagle junior, Abby Lauber opened the scoring with a lay up and was fouled on the shot. Lauber converted giving the Eagles the early lead of 3-0.

The balance of the Lady Eagle scoring in the first quarter came from Lauber adding 6 points and Erika Simon making 2 FT's for a 11 point total.

The 8 points scored by the Lady Cougars were from Jamie Huff with 4, Rachel Allen 2, and Julie French adding 2.

The Lady Eagles took their lead to 26-14 by half time. Lady Eagle scorers in the second were Kiersten Young 2, Abby Rohlfing 4, Janelle Hardesty 6, Alisha Lord 2, and E. Simon 2.

The Lady Cougars 6 points came from Kris Stout for 2, Allen 2, and Gillenwater with 2.

In the third quarter, the Lady Eagles were out scored 16-11 for a total count of JCD 37- SD 30.

Scoring for the Lady Eagles in the third were Lord 4, Hardesty 5, and E. Simon 2. Lady Cougar scoring was the result of Allen for 8, French 7, and 1 by Jackie Miller.

The scoring uplift by the Lady Cougars was secondary to the scare the Lady Eagles and fans encountered at the 1:29 mark in the third quarter as a hard crash by Lady Eagle Lord, a Cougar defender and the end wall, seemed apparent that the Lady Eagles would lose yet another player to a long term injury.

With 7:40 remaining on the game clock, the Lady Eagles lost E. Simon to fouls on a drive and score by Cougar Allen. Adding to the demise, Allen made the FT drawing the score to JCD 37- SD 33.

At 5:33, with the score JCD 42 and SD 38, Eagle Lauber fouled out. With the team options becoming fewer for Coach Smith, and after following icing of Lord's knee injury, Lord returned to the game.

While only able to add 4 points in the Eagle scoring column, Lord awed observers in her defensive contribution. The Lady Eagles were able to hold on to the ball, killing part of time remaining on the clock, and giving a tired and weakened team the opportunity to earn the victory.

Scoring in the fourth quarter for the Lady Cougars: Allen 3, French 3, and Stout, Huff, and Gillenwater 2 each. For the Lady Eagles in the fourth: Young with 2, Ploeger 3, with Hardesty and Lord adding 4 apiece to the final score of JCD 50 to SD 43. The Lady Eagle Reserve battled to a victory at 30-26.

At the varsity games onset it was announced that SD Lady Cougar senior, Rachael Allen, had acquired third place prestige in the schools thousand points scored club in a high school career. Allen reached the milestone in the game Monday, December 19, against Crothersville. Allen's total point production before this game was 1026.

 

 

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