Meredith Adwell’s Triple Saves NEN Junior High Girls

Northeast Nodaway’s junior high girls won two straight games earlier in the year, their first wins in over two years. But those games seemed like a distant memory when the junior high tournament rolled around. The Bluejays had dropped six straight coming into Wednesday’s game, including a near-shutout loss, 32-1 at the hands of Worth County. They were struggling to score 10 points, going up against powerhouses like Platte Valley and St. Gregory’s.

But something must have sparked against Maryville, as the Bluejays, going up against a much bigger and more talented team, lost again, but played the Spoofhounds tough before losing 25-12. That put them against East Atchison Wednesday.

The Wolves were none too pleased with the 49-9 drubbing they got at the hands of North Nodaway Monday. They brought in one of their better players, Kelsea Kirwan, and their head man, Dustin Barnes, took charge and did most of the coaching. Kirwan was one of those players who made everybody else on the floor better, and a totally different Wolves squad showed up to play Wednesday. They were flying to the glass, pressuring Northeast, and getting after it. Kirwan scored five of East Atchison’s seven points in the first quarter as the Wolves led 7-4. Dalanie Auffert and Jaden Atkins countered with two each for NEN.

Meredith Adwell banked one home to cut East Atchison’s lead to 9-8, but skyscraper Faith Anderson banked one home and Alexis Gibler scored in transition after a fourth chance try to make it 13-8. East Atchison was owning the glass, picking up eight offensive boards in the second quarter alone. But somehow, after Tessa Privett’s steal and pass to Jaden Atkins, who made two free throws to cut it to 13-10, Northeast was still part of the game.

Despite East Atchison continuing to own the offensive glass in the third quarter, getting seven more to run up their total to 18 for the game, Northeast tied it twice at 17 and 19 before Jasey Smith got loose for the Wolves in transition to make it 21-19 after three.

Northeast battled hard in the fourth quarter, doing a better job of controlling the boards and tying it up again at 21 and 23. But it looked like their best efforts would be in vain after Kirwan hit a free throw to break the tie with 1:13 left and Dalaynie Drummond got a steal off the press to make it 26-23.

Meredith Adwell missed a good look to tie, but Northeast got the ball back and a second chance. This time, Jaden Atkins took it inside, kicked it out to Adwell with 10.4 seconds left from defeat, and she hit it from a step behind the three-point arc to tie it up. Faith Anderson missed a good look from 12 feet out and Jill Boswell secured the loose ball to send it into overtime.

Neither side could score for much of the extra period. Brooklyn Wennihan missed two free throws for East Atchison with 37.7 seconds left that would have broken the tie, but Jaden Atkins missed a good look inside for NEN. But Jill Boswell stole the ball right back to give Northeast another chance. The Bluejays got the ball into Dalanie Auffert, but Anderson blocked her out of bounds with 12 seconds left. This time, Jaden Atkins took it up top and got it into Jill Boswell inside. With the much taller Anderson draped all over her, Jill Boswell somehow got it over her from the second block on the right hand side, and the shot banked home with 6.7 seconds left to put Northeast up 28-26.

There was still basketball to be played, and there was a heartstopping moment when an errant East Atchison pass caromed off the baseline off Dalanie Auffert underneath the East Atchison basket with 1.4 seconds left. That meant the Wolves could set up an inbounds play to either tie or win. East Atchison tried to hit someone on the weak side, but Jill Boswell tipped it out of bounds, leaving 0.3 seconds left. That was still enough time for the Wolves to catch and shoot, but Boswell tipped the ball out again to preserve the 28-26 win.

Jaden Atkins had 10 points to lead Northeast Nodaway. Meredith Adwell had 7, Dalanie Auffert 5, Jill Boswell 4, and Lauren McIntyre 2.

Meredith Adwell had 2 blocks and Jaden Atkins 1.

Jill Boswell had 13 boards to lead Northeast. Meredith Adwell had 8, Lauren McIntyre 6, Jaden Atkins 5, Delanny Hopper 4, Ruby Wilmes and Dalanie Auffert 2 each, and Tessa Privett 1.

Lauren McIntyre had 3 assists for NEN. Meredith Adwell and Jaden Atkins had 2, while Jill Boswell, Tessa Privett, Dalanie Auffert, and Ruby Wilmes had 1 each.

Jill Boswell had 11 tips for the Bluejays. Jaden Atkins had 8, Dalanie Auffert and Lauren McIntyre 5 each, Meredith Adwell 4, Ruby Wilmes 2, and Tessa Privett 1.

Jill Boswell and Lauren McIntyre had 6 steals for Northeast. Jaden Atkins and Dalanie Auffert had 3, while Meredith Adwell had 2.

The boys beat Mid-Buchanan’s seventh grade squad 48-13. Dylan McIntyre had 22, Alex Mattson 8, and Zach Pride and Brendon Deardorff had 6 each.