Basketball Roundup – January 15, 2019
By Terry Futrell
Wartburg Lady Bulldogs Cruise Past Coalfield 67-43
Winter storm Madison rolled through John Jackson Memorial Gymnasium Tuesday evening leaving devastation in its wake. Wartburg’s Madison Holley and Madison Williams combined for 21 points in the first quarter, including five 3-pointers, to take a 30-14 lead over the Coalfield Lady Jackets after eight minutes of play. Coach Jason Davis substituted his Lady Bulldogs freely after that, keeping the scoring differential to a respectful 37-29 over the last three periods. Wartburg took the victory with a final score of 67-43.
Holley buried four 3-pointers and hit two free throws for 14 points in the first period and added another trey and free throw in the third. She finished the game with 18 points. Williams added two more treys in the second period and finished the game with 15 points. The Lady Bulldogs connected on 12 3-point shots in the contest. Coalfield was led by Brooklyn Seiber with 10 points and Leeah Henry with eight points. The Lady Jackets tallied only one 3-point shot in the game.
The victory places Wartburg in third place in District 3-1A standings behind Oneida and Midway. Coalfield drops to eighth place in the district.
Wartburg Overcomes Coalfield Challenge 75-65
The Coalfield Yellow Jackets matched the Wartburg Bulldogs basket for basket in a competitive matchup, but a 15-5 margin in free throws gave the Bulldogs the victory 75-65. After falling behind 27-19 in the first quarter, the Jackets outpaced Wartburg 18-6 in the second period and took a 37-33 lead at halftime. Wartburg came back strong in the second half, outscoring the Jackets 42-28 to take the win.
Coalfield had four players score in double figures, Kyle Seiber led the Jackets with 19 points, Keigan White scored 12 points, and Jeffrey Speer and Nathan Harvey added 11 points each. Ashton Jones was close behind with nine points. Wartburg was led by Caleb Constant with 22 points. Jake Branstetter added 16 points and Elijah Langley scored 14 points. Each team scored 27 2-point baskets and two 3-point baskets in the contest, with Wartburg’s victory resulting from free throws.
The victory moves Wartburg into first place in District 3-1A. Coalfield drops to last place in the district.
Harriman Lady Devils Gain Victory Over Oakdale 21-14
The visiting Harriman Lady Devils outscored Oakdale 21-14 for their second win in district play this season. Oakdale led 10-6 at the half, but went scoreless in the third quarter. Harriman tied the game after three periods. Harriman came on strong the fourth quarter, outscoring the Lady Eagles 11-4 to win by seven.
Harriman was led by Olivia Goins with seven points and Jasmine Davis with six points. Oakdale was led by Victoria Jones with seven points. Only three Lady Eagles scored in the game.
The victory gives Harriman seventh place in District 3-1A ahead of Coalfield and Rockwood. Oakdale remains in sixth place.
Oakdale Eagles Survive Battle with Harriman 68-67
In a repeat of their first matchup on November 30, the Oakdale Eagles and district-leading Harriman Blue Devils fought a pitched battle, with Oakdale gaining the victory by the slimmest of margins 68-67.
Oakdale jumped out early, taking a 20-15 first quarter lead and building their lead to 32-25 at the half. Harriman outscored Oakdale 42-36 in the second half, but fell short in their comeback effort. Oakdale’s 8-7 advantage in 3-point shooting proved to be the deciding factor in the Eagles’ victory.
Dawson Smith carried the Eagles with 26 points in the contest, including three 3-point shots. Garrett Best added 12 points for Oakdale. Harriman’s Jaylen McCullum led the Devils with 20 points. Kylann Love was close behind with 18 points and Trezdin Copeland added 11 points.
The loss drops Harriman from first to third place in District 3-1A. Wartburg moves into first place and Oakdale remains in second place.
Midway Girls Race Past Sunbright 57-34
They say that speed kills, but it also wins basketball games. Though Midway’s team was generally smaller than Sunbright’s, they were also much faster. The ladies from South of the River used their speed and a smothering defense to virtually shut down Sunbright’s potent offense and took the runaway victory 57-34. Midway’s fast, man-to-man defense was so smothering that Sunbright was seldom able to get an open look at the basket.
Midway was led in scoring by Caitlyn Ross with 14 points. Emily Cawood added 10 points, followed by Heaven Prinzi and Emmy Taylor with nine points each. Rebecca Lemasters added eight points for Midway. Sunbright was led by Makenna Brown with nine points and Alexis Northrup with eight points.
The victory moves Midway ahead of Sunbright into second place in District 3-1A behind undefeated Oneida. Sunbright falls to fourth place in the district behind third-place Wartburg.
Sunbright Tigers Overpower Midway 72-58
In spite of a 9-2 deficit in 3-point baskets, the Sunbright Tigers used an overwhelming 20-5 advantage in free throws to overpower the Midway Green Wave 72-58. Sunbright took an early 17-9 first-quarter lead in what appeared to be a blowout, but Midway fought back hitting five 3-pointers in the second quarter and tied the Tigers 31-31 at the half. Sunbright once again took control after the break, outscoring Midway 41-27 in the second half.
Sunbright was led by the 1-2 punch of John Freels and Hunter Bunch. Freels scored 27 points, hitting 12 of 14 free throws, and Bunch scored 20 points. Wes Bohanan muscled his way to the basket to add 13 points for the Tigers. Midway was led by Jason Taylor with 17 points and Emmett Hegland with 13 points. Taylor buried three treys in the second quarter to spark the Midway comeback effort.
Sunbright’s district record is now 4-6 and the Tigers are locked into sixth place in District 3-1A. Midway is now 2-8 and ranks in seventh place in the district.