Jac-Cen-Del run ends at Semi-State against Vincennes-Rivet, 40-50
Gary Franklin
SPORTS EDITOR
So very close, but no candy cigar for the JCD Lady Eagles. Carrying clout in IHSAA Class 1A top 10 state ranking for most of the 2013-14 season the Coach Scott Smith led 19-3 Jac-Cen-Del Lady Eagles met their 21-4 Vincennes Rivet (VR) Lady Patriot foe in Semi-State competition at the Tiernan Center Arena on the Richmond HS campus on Saturday, March 1 with the final score being VR 50 to JCD 40. Officiating the game were: Robert Childers, Mike Alford and Trey Miller. As usual, the team found solid support from hometown fans and media trekking to support them.
Semi-State action overview recap
Following the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of The National Anthem, introduction of coaches and players, 5'8" senior Brooklyn Ronsheim competed for the center court jump.
A basket by VR sophomore Katie Donavan gave the Lady Patriots the 2-0 lead. Lady Eagle senior Sydney Keene (22) responded with a net rippling downtown three pointer to put JCD up 3-2 at 7:27. VR scoring by junior Bailey Dreiman (10) with 4/4FT shooting and a FG by senior Lauren Herman (12) regained the VR lead at 8-3. Lady Eagle Keene nailed her second 3-pointer. VR Dreiman countered with a FG drive for 10-6.
Lady Eagle senior Brooklyn Ronsheim (32) in heavy traffic scored her first FG, then knotted the contest at 10, depositing two from the charity stripe. VR's senior Bailey Niehaus scored a FG, countered by a Lady Eagle Keene FG to knot the score at 12 with 1:43 remaining in the opening period. VR scored back to back FG's in the remaining time with one each by Herman and junior Carly Waggoner (22) to earn the four point edge heading into the second period, 16-12.
Second Quarter
Lady Eagle junior Jenna Hughes (12) delivery of a three pointer opened second period scoring to pull JCD to a mere one point deficit at 15-16. A pair of FT misses by VR Herman led to a one of two FT connections by Lady Eagle junior Jacqlyn Menchhofer (50) for the third tie of the game. This one at 16-16 at the 5:34 mark.
Lady Eagle Keene elevated JCD to its first lead in the contest at the 4:15 mark, 18-16 with her FG score. VR's Herman knotted the game at 18 with a FG. Lady Eagle Keene nailed a 3-pointer, VR's Dreiman countered with a FG score. Lady Eagle Keene lit it up with another FG score before ending the halftime scoring with a pair of FT connections for the Lady Eagle 25-20 edge.
Third Quarter
Lady Eagle Keene's steal led to her connecting for another FG for the opening score of the third period. Lady Eagle teammate Ronsheim missed on a pair of FT shots, however VR closed the gap with a 3-pointer by Dreiman and a FG score by Herman. Lady Eagle Keene's FG moved JCD back into a four point lead at 29-25.
Old fashioned three point (FG/FT) combinations were added by VR's Herman and Lady Eagle Keene by the halfway point of the third period for 32-28. A VR sophomore Kelsey Ivers (21) FG score led to back to back Lady Eagle FG scores by Keene and Hughes for the six point edge at 36-30, heading into the final quarter.
Fourth Quarter
VR's Dreiman scored the first basket in the final period. However a fourth foul assessed Lady Eagle Keene led to her removal from the contest at the 5:54 mark. The only positive to JCD's situation, VR's Herman missed the front end of her one plus one charity stripe opportunity. However, Lady Patriot responded with a 3-point connection, cutting their deficit to one at 35-36.
Lady Eagle Ronsheim in traffic managed to nail a FG score. Her following trip to the charity stripe came up empty, missing the front side of the one plus one opportunity. With the scoreboard showing 3:16 remaining, VR's Dreiman scored a FG. A foul assessed to Lady Eagle Menchhofer on a made FG by sophomore Katie Donovan (14) connected to her FT connection gained the Lady Patriots the two point lead at 40-38 over JCD at the 2:58 mark.
The balance of the game took a downward spiral for the Lady Eagles as calls all favored the Lady Patriots for the remainder of the contest. Lady Patriot Niehaus scored a FG. Lady Eagle Ronsheim sank one of her two FT 's offered. Lady Patriot Dreiman nailed a FG before missing the FT that followed. Lady Eagle Keene connected on one of two charity stripe attempts. Final scoring for the game included a FG by Lady Patriot Niehaus and a pair of FT scores by teammate Ivers for the final tally of VR 50-40 JCD. A score most unrepresentative of the actual game as played.
GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO
Pictured from left , Lady Eagles Jordan Day (30), Brooklyn Ronsheim (32), Jacqlyn Menchhofer (50), Lady Patriot Lauren Herman (12) move around the court as Lady Patriot Kelsey Ivers (21) mistakingly gets her attempted pass to teammate Katie Donavan (14) low, whereas Lady Eagle Sydney Keene (22) rises for the deflection and takes advantage with a fast paced drive for a basket against VR's hustling Bailey Dreiman (10).
The 450 tickets allotted to JCD via Athletic Director Mark Meyer were sold out the first day. Others were able to purchase tickets at the door. The Ripley County community has collectively and continually gathered to support any area teams as they have earned advancement in extended season sports. This year that team deservingly was the Jac-Cen-Del Lady Eagle basketball teams.
The JCD cast and support system:
The 2013-14 team consisting of: Head Coach Scott Smith, JV Coach Matt McNew, Assistant coaches Chad Pindell and Abby Lauber, two seniors: Sydney Keene (22), Brooklyn Ronsheim (32), juniors: Jenna Hughes (12), Jacqlyn Menchhofer (50), Kelsey Bowling (14), Tiffany Burton (40), sophomores: Jordan Day (30), Abby Wagner (24), Hayley Bruns (42) Elizabeth Abel (44) and Andrea Smith (34), freshmen: Baili Miller, Rosie Newhart, Kayla Bowling (20) and Cele DeChristopher.
JCD cheerleaders included: Shelbie Huffmeyer, Justice Thoman, Alexis Bushhorn, Jessilyn Tunny, Kelsey Foster, Hannah Mullikin, Kaylynn Baluyot, Taylor Carroll, Hannah Eaton, Teha Merkel, Tara Ricke and Rachel Schwanholt with Nichole Drockelman the cheer coach. Eagle Mascot: Zach Bonta and male pep leader: Alex Schoettmer.
Phenominal pep band support was provided by JCDHS Band Director Glenn Unklesbay and his mighty spirit lifting student group.
In overview
A valued and committed leader, role model and friend, Coach Smith finishes his 13th year with the Jac-Cen-Del Lady Eagles for a 207-97 career record. We anticipate it will not take long for positive additions to be made to it in the upcoming 2014-15 season.
Good luck Coach Smith and returning Lady Eagles. We look forward to picking up coverage for another year.
To seniors Sydney Keene and Brooklyn Ronsheim, you will obviously be missed in so many ways. Wishing you both the best in your future endeavors. You each have added solid leadership and positive work ethic for all of us to pattern after.