Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Jacquelyn Cline Grabs School Record 36 Points in Mustang Win

North Nodaway's girls snapped a four game losing streak Wednesday as they beat Albany 48-30 behind a record setting 36 points from Jacquelyn Cline to advance to the consolation finals at the Stanberry Tournament. The previous record holder was Becky Logdson, who had 34 points in a game back in the 1970's. 

Previously, after an impressive 55-35 win over Stewartsville/Osborn, North Nodaway went into a tailspin starting with a 43-22 loss to a really good LaPlata team. Down two players from the start of the year, they had to learn to play without Saryn Brown (knee) and Kelsey Barcus (graduation), two mainstays of the program for the last two years. They lost by 11 to a rapidly improving Rock Port squad, had a forgettable 44-21 loss to DeKalb in one of the more difficult venues to play in, and a 60-27 loss to a much taller North Andrew squad in the first round of the Stanberry Tournament.

But although the scoreboard didn't show it, the Mustangs showed signs of life in the North Andrew game, and they started attacking the rim and getting on the line, going 6 for 6 in the first quarter of the Albany game. Albany was shorthanded, playing without Abi Troncin (ankle), their most physical player. But they still had a promising freshman post in Jordyn Sterkis, who scored an early basket for the Warriors. Albany, which was winless last year, had a lot more players go out this year and has already won three games. 

Albany kept it close for a while, tying it at 5 at one point. But then Sterkis got in early foul trouble and North Nodaway started to pull away, getting 12 from Cline in the first quarter. The Warriors cut it to 14-10 with five seconds left in the period, only for Jacquelyn Cline to put up a halfcourt heave at the buzzer to spark the Mustangs and send the Warriors into a tailspin.

Cory Worrell's free throw cut the Warrior deficit to 17-11 to start the second, but then Cline hit two free throws, got loose in transition and hit a 3-pointer, got a good pass from Addy Barcus and hit another 3-pointer, and then cut inside and got a pass from Ellaina Renfro to make it 27-11. Sterkis' free throws cut it to 27-13, but then with time winding down, Jacquelyn Cline grabbed an offensive rebound and hit Angie Parker at the buzzer to make it 29-13.

But Albany was saved by the bell, and they started fighting back in the third quarter, as Sterkis carried the team on her shoulders. Cline hit a 3-pointer to start the third quarter, but after that, everything the Warriors threw up started going in. Cline kept hitting, scoring 7 in the quarter, but then Worrell hit from the left wing with 15 seconds left to make it 36-25, and following a Mustang turnover, got a 3-pointer from Addisyn Crawford at the buzzer to make it 36-28.

The worrisome thing about that was that Albany had the ball to start the fourth, with a chance to cut it to five or six without North Nodaway touching the ball. But then North Nodaway played lockdown defense and was rewarded when Cline scored off a Lauren Herndon steal. Lauren was about to pull it back and set it up with 6:55 left to go when she found Cline cutting towards the basket and she got a three point play, marking a five point swing and a 39-28 lead. Albany was playing triangle and two on Herndon and Cline, but Jackie added a steal with 4:03 left. Keylee Siddens got a putback to cut it to 41-30, but then Lauren Herndon answered with a 3-pointer, Jackie cut inside and scored, and Addalea Barcus hit a baseline shot as the Mustangs pulled away. Addalea showed she was one of the most improved players on the squad; pressed into service as a freshman, she showed a lot more confidence on the floor on both ends and meshed right in with the other players.

Jacquelyn Cline had 36 points for the Mustangs. Lauren Herndon had 8, Angie Parker 2, and Addalea Barcus 2.

Ellaina Renfro had 2 blocks and Lauren Herndon 1.

Lauren Herndon had 8 boards. Angie Parker and Ellaina Renfro had 6 each, Addalea Barcus 4, Jacquelyn Cline 3, and Lacy Riley 1.

Lauren Herndon had 5 assists. Ellaina Renfro had 4, Jacquelyn Cline and Addalea Barcus 3 each, and Lacy Riley 1.

Lauren Herndon had 9 tips. Jacquelyn Cline had 7, Addalea Barcus 4, Ellaina Renfro and Lacy Riley 3, and Angie Parker 2. 

Jacquelyn Cline had 4 steals. Angie Parker and Lacy Riley had 2, and Addalea Barcus had 1.

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