Northeast Nodaway’s Junior High girls won an easy game over Mid-Buchanan’s seventh graders, and then won a hard-fought slugfest against East Atchison, who went on to beat Platte Valley handily for third place. But they were not supposed to hang with St. Gregory’s, which had blitzed everyone this year. They hung 45 points in a 30 point win over the Bluejays earlier in the season, and they beat Worth County by 40. They got a stiff challenge from Maryville before winning by 15, but then held Platte Valley to eight points in a 33-8 semifinal win.
But someone forgot to appraise the Bluejays, who were on a high following their win over East Atchison and who didn’t want the season to end. They went blow for blow against the swarming, pressing Falcon squad, who could handle the ball and who could shoot lights out. They were only down 17-16 to the Falcons at the half, and then took the lead when Baylee Busby converted a drive after a pass from Lindsey Jackson to start the second. Busby cleaned up her own miss after a transition look and all of a sudden, the Bluejays were in front 20-17 to the undefeated Falcons.
But then the Falcons started making use of their speed and depth, going back in front when Sabryn Lager got loose in transition, Monica Conover knocked one down, and Ryesen Steins got loose in transition to put the Falcons back in front 23-20.
Sasha Deardorff scored off a drive to cut it to 23-21, but then Jalea Price threatened to take over, scoring on consecutive shots to make it 27-21.
Northeast fought back to within two as Baylee Busby broke the press and scored to make it 27-23 after three and then Lindsey Jackson scored off a drive to start the fourth to make it 27-25.
But then Makalya Yaple hit a free throw and knocked one down from the top of the key, and then Lager knocked down two free throws to make it 32-25.
St. Gregory’s led by as much as 36-27, but Skyler Florea took on three Falcons and got one to go down, and Baylee Busby grabbed a fourth chance putback to make it 36-31 with 1:11 left. But Northeast didn’t have enough fouls, and the Falcons were able to dribble out the clock the rest of the way to preserve the win despite Northeast’s frantic efforts to get the ball back.
But the Bluejays knew afterwards they had given it their best shot. They didn’t want the season to end, as some of their players lingered well after the boys game had ended to congratulate the boys, who went on to win their bracket over Maryville.
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