The chant coming from behind the JCD Lady Eagles bench “O-ver -Ra-ted” seemed to be the ember needed to fan the smoke into a blaze for Coach Scott Smith’s team, as they shifted into another gear and claimed a four-point lead victory, 43-39, over the White River Valley Wolverines to claim the IHSAA Class 1A Girls Basketball Regional #15 Championship Title on Tuesday night, February 24, held at Shelby Southwestern High School. The Lady Eagles earned their place in the championship game after winning the second game of the semi finals against the Morristown Yellow Jackets 50-31.


SUBMITTED PHOTO
Pictured left is coach’s language for “clear the lanes, no fouls and Lilly, nail the shot.” They did, she did and the book on 2014-15 JCD Lady Eagle history continues at semi-state.

Championship Game
Quarter One
Jac-Cen-Del controlled the opening tip, following an Eagle junior Jordan Day (30) assessed foul and a pair of FT misses by WRV 31. Junior Allison Wininger (10) struck for a FG score and the first points of the contest. Eagle junior Hayley Bruns (42) knotted the game at two with her FG score. Senior Madison Hockman (22) lit the net for a 3 pointer and a 5-2 lead. Lady Eagle Bruns (42) answered with another FG score. Wininger (10) nailed another 3 pointer for the 8-4 edge. A one of two FT connection for Eagle Day (30) followed, then a pair of FT connections by sophomore teammate Rosie Newhart; however, in the process, Day had collected a second foul and went to the bench for the final 1:11. Newhart added a FG score before the horn to give JCD their first lead at 9-8 as quarter one concluded.

Quarter Two
Junior Lady Wolverine Shannon Pittman (25) knotted the score with her one of two FT connections. Lady Eagle freshman Lilly Simon (32) connected on a pair of freebies to re-insert JCD into the lead; however a Wininger 3 pointer put WRV up by one at 12-11 near the four minute mark of quarter two. Four-for-four FT connections later by Pittman was met by a one of two trip to the charity stripe by Eagle Simon (32). Two more FT scores by Pittman and Simon (32) scored a FG. Senior Madison Hockman (22) drilled a three pointer to advance the Lady Wolverines lead to seven at 21-14 before Eagle Simon (32) ended first half scoring with a FG for a 16-21 halftime deficit with much to be discussed in the locker room.

Quarter Three
Early in third period action, Lady Eagle Simon made a FG and was knocked to the floor while scoring. It looked like a chance for an old-fashioned, three-point play but ended up being called a foul which erased the FG and the trip to the charity stripe. The eventual first score to enter the books was for WRV with a FG by junior Alexis Graves (31). At the 5:18 mark, Lady Eagle junior Abby Wagner (24) popped the net with a 3 point delivery. Teammate Day (30) edged JCD to within a deuce with her FG score near the 4:30 mark to trail 21-23. Wininger (10) scored a FG, Lady Eagle Newhart (55) countered with a FG score. Wininger (10) added a 3 pointer, Eagle Newhart scored one of two FTs, then added a FG for the counter, during the process, Lady Wolverine Graves was retired from the game with her fifth assessed foul. Hockman added a FG score, Eagle Simon (32) countered, and with time expiring, Eagle senior Kelsey Bowling stole the basketball and ran the length of the court for a lay up to knot the game at 30-30, going into the final period.

Quarter Four
The Lady Eagles opened the final period with possession and Lady Eagle Bruns nailed a short jumper for the two point lead. A Pittman FG countered to knot the game at 32. Lady Eagle Newhart (55) added one of two FT scores to which Eagle Day dialed in the long range three bomb for a Eagles four point, 36-32 edge near the five and a half minute mark.
Pittman scored a FG, Eagle Wagner (24) countered with a pair of FT connections. Pittman made one of two FTs attempted, leading to Eagle Simon (32) missing on the front end of the one-plus-one opportunity. Lady Eagle Newhart managed to bury a FG score, but failed to add the FT, leaving JCD a five point edge at 40-35 with just under two minutes remaining. A fourth foul assessed Eagle Simon at 1:26 sent Wininger to the charity stripe where she missed the front end of a one plus one opportunity. Eagle Day (30) connected on one of two FT shots with 48.1 seconds remaining, leading to a Coach Smith called time-out. Senior Eagle Jenna Hughes (12) added one of her two FTs attempted to the tally for a seven point, 42-35 edge. Wininger added a FG score to her evening’s tally. With just 2 seconds remaining on the game clock, Eagle Newhart went down. Eagle Simon (32) added one of two FTs which led to the final FG of the game by sophomore Abby Denham and a JCD Eagle Regional Championship victory by four at 43-39. The Lady Eagles are now in the Final Four and will play top-ranked Barr Reeve High School, Montgomery, in the Semi-State game on Saturday, Feb. 28 at Jeffersonville.

For details on championship game stats and All-Regional First Team and Honorable Mention, pick up The Versailles Republican at your local newsstand!


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• 2015 Boys Basketball Sectional Preview (section B)
• JCD Lady Eagles swat Morristown Yellow Jackets in Regional Semi-Final (page 5)