Reprinted courtesy of:
Frankfort Times


By Chad Husted
Published: Monday, February 16, 2009 6:09 AM EST
DELPHI �” The prize awarded to the seniors of the Clinton Central girls basketball team �” the game ball �” wasn’t what they were hoping to receive Saturday night.

Seniors Kelsey Neal, Heather Tolson and Shelby Wilson had played for the trophy awarded to the sectional champions, but Carroll took the prize in a 52-36 victory over the Bulldogs.

Following a thrilling comeback win Friday night versus Seeger, Central (5-15) couldn’t grasp the same momentum to pull itself even with Carroll. The Bulldogs scored 32 points in the second half against Seeger. Against the Cougars, they could only muster 13 points in the same stretch.

“I thought we came out and played a really, really good first quarter and a fairly decent second quarter,” Central coach Jennifer Jacoby said. “We had mental breakdowns that we can’t have. We turned the ball over at some key opportunities. But you know what, I thought we came a long way.”

The Bulldogs had hoped to claim the sectional championship title after struggling through a 4-14 regular season, but Carroll’s shooting prowess and the momentum from its own win against Fountain Central Friday night overcame any emotional boost the Bulldogs had.

However, Carroll coach Mike McCrosky knew they could not be judged on their record.

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“They are a very good defensive basketball team, and I thought Kelsey Neal really set the tempo of the game and caused us a lot of trouble,” McCrosky said. “They’ve improved a lot during the season, and even though they only had five wins, they’re a very dangerous team with five wins.”

The defensive skills of both teams were displayed in the second quarter. Neither team could get the ball through the hoop, leading to a five-minute scoring drought with the teams tied at 20 that Central could not take advantage of.

“Especially when (Jessica Yoder) went out with two fouls ... you’ve got to score when those kids are on the bench,” Jacoby said. “We have to learn that you have to knock down shots at key opportunities.”

Carroll overcame its shooting woes first, scoring 10 points in the last two minutes to build a seven-point lead before halftime. That, McCrosky said, was the most important time in the game.

“We certainly set a big tone,” McCrosky said. “If we go into the locker room and it’s a one- or two-point game, well (Central was) there last night. Instead we go in up seven, and we were able to pull away slightly from there.”

Jacoby now looks toward next season, the first that she will be with her team for the entirety of the summer preparation time. The team will miss its departing seniors immensely, Jacoby said, but she’s excited for what this team has accomplished.

“If you would have told me three weeks ago we’d be in the final game of the sectional, I’d have told you I don’t know if that’s possible,” Jacoby said. “They played hard, they did everything we asked them to do, and they’re great. The senior class, we’re going to miss them.”

Carroll 52, Clinton Central 36

at Delphi

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Carroll 18 12 12 10 �” 52

Clinton Central 14 9 5 8 �” 36

GAME STATISTICS

Carroll (16-7) 52

J. Yoder 3-8 3-6 11, Hughes 2-6 0-0 4, Reinke 5-8 2-2 14, S. Griffin 1-2 0-0 2, Eller 4-7 5-6 14, Hedrick 0-1 0-2 0, C. Yoder 1-4 0-0 2, Zook 2-6 0-0 5, J. Griffin 0-0 0-0 0, Hickner 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-42 10-16 52.

Clinton Central (5-15) 36

Cheek 1-4 0-2 2, Ostler 5-7 3-3 13, Neal 2-11 2-4 6, Wilson 4-10 0-0 8, Heidt 0-0 0-0 0, Eli 2-11 0-0 6, Bowman 0-1 1-2 1, Ross 0-0 0-0 0, Orr 0-0 0-0 0, Amos 0-1 0-0 0, Brant 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 14-45 6-11 36.

3-point field goals: C 6-12 (J. Yoder 2-2, Hughes 0-1, Reinke 2-3, Eller 1-1, C. Yoder 0-1, Zook 1-4), C. Central 2-12 (Neal 0-3, Wilson 0-1, Eli 2-8). Rebounds: C 29 (Reinke 9), C. Central 24 (Ostler, Wilson 6). Assists: C 3 (S. Griffin 2), C. Central 5 (Neal 2). Steals: C 5 (Eller 2), C. Central 4 (Eli 2). Blocks: C 1 (S. Griffin 1), C. Central 2 (Ostler, Wilson 1). Turnovers: C 12, C. Central 11. Fouled out: