Thursday, November 26, 2020

Jacquelyn Cline Comes Up Big as Mustangs End Shamrock Jinx

 North Nodaway beat North Harrison 47-45 in the first year of the Sami Jackson era back in 2014. Ever since then, the Shamrocks had North Nodaway’s number until last Tuesday night. North Nodaway would always play North Harrison tough, only to come up short. But on Tuesday, North Nodaway finally came up big as Jacquelyn Cline and Saryn Brown made some key plays and the Mustangs came away with a 40-36 win. The win is a key step forward for the Mustangs; taking one’s game to the next level involves beating teams that have beaten you before.

The game was close all the way, with neither team leading by more than five the entire night. The teams battled to a standoff in the first quarter, with North Nodaway holding a 6-5 lead. Free throws from Emma Craig, Camden Castleberry, and Kami Gibson and a high post shot from Trendi Johnson were countered by three points each from Saylor Brown and Lauren Herndon. 

Kami Gibson, the most improved player for the Shamrocks for the second year in a row, threatened to take over in the second quarter as she turned into a human bulldozer, knocking over the blue shirts at will as the Shamrocks went ahead 11-8. But then Jacquelyn Cline shot the Mustangs back into the lead at 18-13, as she scored eight points in a two minute span to restore order for the Mustangs.

Jacquelyn Cline and Saylor Brown, however, each picked up their second foul and North Harrison began climbing back in the game. Late three pointers from Camden Castleberry and Emma Craig tied the game up at 21 at the half.

Jadon Dobbins hit a 3-pointer for North Nodaway to start the second half, and they stayed ahead throughout the third quarter despite Emma Craig’s best efforts; Craig had four points in the period. Dobbins took a charge on Gibson and sent her to the bench with her third foul, which kept North Harrison from getting ahead. 

Jacquelyn Cline got a steal and two free throws after Karissa Oberhauser got a tip to make it 29-25 to start the fourth, but then Gibson came back and scored a free throw, then beat everyone down the court as North Harrison got a stop and Erin Virtue got her a quick outlet to cut it to 29-28. Emma Craig got a drive off a pass from Gibson to put the Shamrocks in front 30-29.

Jacquelyn Cline picked up her fourth foul and things started to look bad for the Mustangs as Jayliegh Robins hit a free throw, Emma Craig got a putback, and Robins hit another free throw to make it 34-29 with 2:52 left. 

But then Saryn Brown got it to Saylor inside to make it 34-31 with 2:00 left and Emma Craig missed a dagger three that would have made it six, the biggest lead by either side. North Nodaway took full advantage as Saryn Brown got to to Jacquelyn Cline at the top of the key, and she banked home a 3-pointer to tie it at 34.

The difference was that the rebounding got much better down the stretch, according to coach Sami Jackson. Both freshmen for North Nodaway came up big for the Mustangs, with Saryn Brown getting 11 boards and Lauren Herndon 10. Jacquelyn Cline got four in the last three minutes of the game after she came back in, and Lauren Herndon got some key boards in the final period as well. North Nodaway wound up winning the rebounding battle 42-36.

Kami Gibson missed a runner, and then Saryn Brown scored off a drive to make it 36-34. But then Emma Craig drove down the right side and connected to tie it again at 36. North Nodaway took a timeout and Saylor Brown got the ball to Jacquelyn Cline in the middle. She found a driving lane and took it to the rim with 25 seconds left to put the Mustangs in front at 38-36. 

North Harrison traveled with the basketball as North Nodaway set a surprise trap at midcourt with 18 seconds left, and they ran off 11 seconds before North Harrison could get Saryn Brown fouled with 7.8 seconds left. Saryn Brown hit her first free throw to make it three, and North Harrison used up their last timeout to try and ice the freshman. But Saryn Brown made the second free throw to ice the game.

For the Mustangs, Jacquelyn Cline had 15, Saryn Brown 12, Saylor Brown 5, Lauren Herndon and Jadon Dobbins 3 each, and Kelsi Barcus 2. 

Besides Saryn Brown and Lauren Herndon getting double figures in boards, Saylor Brown had 8, Jacquelyn Cline 6, Karissa Oberhauser 4, Jadon Dobbins 2, and Kelsi Barcus 1.

Saylor Brown had 7 assists. Jacquelyn Cline and Saryn Brown had 3 each, Jadon Dobbins 2, and Lauren Herndon and Karissa Oberhauser 1.

Jadon Dobbins had 5 tips. Jacquelyn Cline had 4, Lauren Herndon, Saylor Brown, and Saryn Brown 2 each, and Karissa Oberhauser 1.

Jadon Dobbins, Jacquelyn Cline, and Lauren Herndon had 2 steals each. Saryn Brown had 1.

For North Harrison, Emma Craig had 16 points. Kami Gibson had 10, Camden Castleberry and Jayliegh Robins had 4 each, and Trendi Johnson 2.

Jayliegh Robins had 2 blocks.

Emma Craig had 9 boards. Jayliegh Robins had 8, Kami Gibson 6, Camden Castleberry and Halle Morgan 4 each, Trendi Johnson 3, and Erin Virtue 2.

Camden Castleberry and Trendi Johnson had 4 assists. Kami Gibson had 3. Emma Craig, Jayliegh Robins, and Erin Virtue had 1.

Camden Castleberry had 3 tips. Kami Gibson and Jayliegh Robins had 2 each, and Emma Craig had 1.

Jayliegh Robins, and Kami Gibson had 2 steals each. Halle Morgan, Trendi Johnson, and Erin Virtue each had 1.


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