Jayhawks Lose Overtime Thriller

Jayhawks Lose Overtime Thriller

The JCC Jayhawks women's basketball team (4-5) hosted the Pioneers of Butler County Community College.  The Pioneers jumped out to a 3 point lead but the Jayhawks came roaring back, and with a 3 pointer of their own, held a 9-3 lead.  With 5 minutes in the first period the teams had played back and forth and the Jayhawks held a 15-10 lead.  The Jayhawks got hot again and ended the first period with a 23-14 lead.  The second period saw the Pioneers closed the scoring gap and leave the Jayhawks with a slim 25-23 lead.  The Pioneers hit a 3 pointer and with 6 minutes left in the half, the Jayhawks held on to a 27-26 lead.  And after outscoring the Jayhawks 12-4 during this stretch, all momentum seeming to be in favor of the Pioneers.  The teams went back and forth and with less than 5 minutes left before half, the Jayhawks held the slim lead 30-29.  However, as has been the case most of the season, a clutch 3 point shot by  #4 Emilee Sperry seemed to shift the momentum back in the Jayhawks favor and they went on a run in the final 4 minutes to give them a comfortable 48-30 lead.

The third period saw the Jayhawks extend the lead quickly to 50-30, but then the Pioneers began to chisel away at the Jayhawks defense, and with less than 4 minutes remaining in the 3rd period, the Jayhawks held the 54-37 lead.  The 3rd period came to a close with the Pioneers closing the gap to Jayhawks 57, Pioneers 45.  The 4th quarter saw the Pioneers Julia Baxter taking the game over and with 5 minutes left to play, the Jayhawks lead was reduced to 5, 59-54.  The Pioneers momentum was building  and with less than two and a half minutes to play, the Pioneers took the lead 61-59.  The period would end with both teams letting free throw opportunities slip away, leading to a 65-65 tie. In overtime, a flurry of turnovers, steals, and missed free throws plagued both teams but the play of the Pioneers Julia Baxter (who scored 6 points in OT, finishing the day with 35 points, 19 rebounds, 6 steals, and 6 blocks) seemed the difference maker as the Pioneers downed the Jayhawks 74-71.      

The Jayhawks were led by #22 Jada Jackson (Wellsboro) who had a double double of 19 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 steals; #4 Emilee Sperry (Panama) had 15 points (including 4 3-pointers) and 5 assists; #24 Kelly Keefe (Jamestown) had 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 steals; #33 Brianne Davis (Bemus Point) had 10 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals; #20 Sydney Wight (Wellsville) had 8 points and 7 rebounds; #50 Quinn Bankoski (Dunkirk) had 4 points, #11 Hayden Burgeson (Lakewood) had 3 rebounds and 3 assists; and #21 Alexis Hallberg (Bemus Point) and #34 Kaleigh Brunswick (South Dayton) each had 3 rebounds.  

Scoreboard