Lady Jays Basketball
Varsity Girls Fall to Knights
by Montana Ruppert
The varsity girls’ basketball team hit the road to play Norfolk Catholic Tuesday, December 4, where they fought hard but dropped the game 29-43.
In the first quarter of the game, the Lady Jays got off to a slow start offensively and found themselves facing a 0-12 deficit. Coach Darren Sindelar said, “We didn't start the game very well. We had too many mistakes on the offensive end. We did not execute our offense at all.”
Things picked up in the second quarter as Maggie Brahmer started Pierce off with a pair of two-point shots. Following Brahmer, Kenzie Moeller put down a three-pointer and two free throws. Ending the second quarter, Abbey Fuerhoff sank a three. After putting up eleven points of their own, going into halftime, the Knights were ahead 11-23.
Starting off the third quarter, Fuerhoff drained a three-pointer. Following Fuerhoff, Kayla Simmons put down two free throws, and Zoe Brenden followed with a two-pointer. With the Knights still in the lead after matching the Lady Jays’ seven points in the quarter, the Lady Jays remained behind 18-30.
For the final quarter, the Lady Jays made a strong effort and put away 11 points. Brianna Aguilera put down two free throws, followed by Simmons with a two-pointer. Aguilera sank a three-pointer. Following Aguilera, Brahmer put down a free throw along with Brenden. Finishing the game, Simmons put down two free throw shots. With the Knights scoring another 13, however, the Lady Jays ended the game down 29-43.
Leading the Lady Jays in blocks were Brahmer, Fuerhoff, and Moeller with two. Leading in assists was Brahmer with two, followed by Lubischer, Moeller, and Aguilera with one each. Moeller had four steals, Aguilera had three steals, and Simmons finished with two steals against the Knights.
Looking ahead, coach Sindelar said, “We have to take care of the ball and be more efficient on offense. We need to play with more aggressiveness on defense. We gave them too many second-chance opportunities.” Coach said that the team needs to work on being more fundamentally sound. He said they gave themselves a chance with a good possessions on the offensive end, and defensively they must do better at rebounding. Some challenges Sindelar thought the team will face are being mentally prepared to play.
The next varsity girls’ basketball game will be Friday, December 7, against Boone Central.
JV Lady Jays Defeat Knights
by Kenzie Moeller
The JV girls’ basketball team played the Norfolk Catholic Knights on Tuesday, December 4. The Lady Jays defeated the Knights 32-26.
Starting off the game, the Lady Jays put up eight points on the scoreboard. Faith Lubischer had one free throw, and Kennedy Warneke had a two-point shot and a three-pointer. Abigail Meier had two free-throws. The Lady Knights scored six points to stay right on the Lady Jays’ tails. In the second quarter, the Lady Jays scored four points on two-point shots from Warneke and Payten Simmons. The Lady Jays’ defense shut down the Knights’ offense by allowing no points in the second quarter. The Lady Jays ended the half on top 12-6.
Starting the second half, the Lady Jays scored five points. Simmons had two two-point shots, and Meier had one free-throw, but the Lady Knights scored eleven points to tie the game at 17. Heading to the final quarter, the Lady Jays found their offensive rhythm and scored fifteen points. Gina Wragge scored two free throws and a three-pointer, Warneke had a two-point shot, and Mikala Stone had a three-point shot and three free throws. Simmons also scored a two-point shot. The Lady Knights scored only nine points, so the Lady Jays were able to end on top with a final score of 32-26.
Coach Amber Henderson said, “I was proud of how the girls kept fighting and trying to make adjustments on the go.”
The JV Lady Jays’ next game will be December 7, at Boone Central.
Freshman Girls Play Hartington Cedar Catholic
by Kenzie Moeller
Pierce’s freshman girls’ basketball team played their first home game of the season against the Trojans of Hartington Cedar Catholic on Monday, December 3. The Lady Jays’ lost 30-46.
In the first quarter of the game, the Lady Jays scored four points courtesy of two-point shots from Samantha Fischer and Graison Pfeiffer. The Trojans managed to score nine points to take the lead in the first quarter. Again in the second quarter of the game, the Lady Jays scored four points, two-point shots from Payten Simmons and Pfeiffer. The Lady Trojans scored six points to extend their lead, leaving the Lady Jays ending the half behind 8-15.
Starting the second half, the Lady Jays scored four points. Pfeiffer and Simmons each had one free throw, and Simmons had a two-point shot. The Lady Trojans continued to dominate on offense and scored twelve points. Heading to the final quarter, Lady Jays were still behind 12-27. In the final quarter of the game, the Lady Jays picked up their offense and scored eighteen points. Gina Wragge scored a two-point shot and a three-pointer. Kennedy Warneke scored two three-pointers, and Payten Simmons sank five free throws and a two-point shot. The Trojans still edged out the Lady Jays this quarter and scored nineteen points, so the Lady Jays weren’t able to get a win, falling by a final score of 30-46.
Coach Alexis Dixon said, “This game was a great learning experience for the girls. The girls showed determination in the fourth quarter and didn't give up. We will continue to work on the things that we need to improve on and will prepare for the next game.”
The freshman Lady Jays’ next game will be held at Scotus on Saturday, December 15.
JH Girls’ Basketball Splits Games with Norfolk Catholic
by Tazlynn Sporleder
The Pierce junior high girls’ basketball teams played Norfolk Catholic Tuesday, December 4, at Norfolk Catholic. The A team had a hard-fought win, while the B team lost.
In the first quarter of the A game, the Pierce defense held Norfolk Catholic to only three points while they scored seven points. Addison Sporleder scored a three and a two-pointer, and Morgan Moeller scored a two-pointer.
In the second quarter, the Lady Jays stayed on top of the Knights as the Lady Knights scored seven points while the Lady Jays scored ten. Sporleder scored a two-pointer, and Moeller hit a pair of two-pointers. Alyssa Cederburg also scored two baskets to add the the Lady Jays’ score. Going into halftime, the score was 17-10, Lady Jays.
In the third quarter, Norfolk Catholic scored just six points on the Lady Jay defense while Pierce scored 12. Kallie Edins, Sporleder, and Moeller all scored a two-pointer to help the Lady Jays, and Cedarburg scored two two-pointers and a free throw, leaving the score at the end of the third quarter at 29-16
Ending the game, the Lady Knights scored ten points, and although the Lady Jays scored only seven courtesy of Edins, Sporleder, Moeller, and Cederburg, the Lady Jays won 36-26.
The B game then began. In the first quarter, the Lady Jays and Lady Knights were neck-and-neck and both scored four points. Edins and Ciara Garcia scored a two-pointer each.
In the second, Catholic pulled ahead and scored ten points and held Pierce to four. Ella Gaes scored a two-pointer, and Sporleder made two free throws. Going into halftime, the score was 8-14.
In the third quarter, Catholic scored 15 points while Pierce scored just eight. Garcia scored three two-pointers and two free throws for the Lady Jays. Going into the final quarter, the score was 16-29.
In the fourth quarter, the Lady Knights scored ten points, but the Lady Jays struggled, scoring zero points, leaving the ending score at 16-39.
Coach Brenda Fleecs said, “Norfolk Catholic had two very talented teams. They were a very physical team, and we were able to fight through that and make adjustments. It was a big win for the A team.”
The next junior high girls’ game is Saturday, December 8, at Wayne. Tip off is off at 9 a.m.
