Lady Jays roll past Hickman in Holiday Hoops semifinals

Sarah Linthacum of the Jefferson City Lady Jays looks for a rebound on a free-throw attempt during Friday's game against the Hickman Kewpies at Rackers Fieldhouse.
Sarah Linthacum of the Jefferson City Lady Jays looks for a rebound on a free-throw attempt during Friday's game against the Hickman Kewpies at Rackers Fieldhouse.

The question was a simple one. Had the Jefferson City Lady Jays played a better quarter all season than the one they opened with during Friday's game against Hickman?

The answer was equally simple.

"No," Jefferson City coach Brad Conway said without missing a beat.

He went on to expand about the 53-22 throttling of the Kewpies in a winner's bracket semifinal of the State Farm Holiday Hoops Invitational at Rackers Fieldhouse that started with the Lady Jays being up 20-2 after one period.

"One thing we talked about (Friday) morning at practice was that if we could up the defensive intensity and maybe get them to take some quick shots, if we could get to the loose balls, if we could secure rebounds and get out and push the tempo, that could be an advantage of ours," Conway said. "The girls bought into it."

Jefferson City shot a sizzling 9-of-13 (69 percent) from the field in the first quarter, while Hickman was just 1-of-11 (9 percent) with six turnovers.

"That first quarter, we did hit some shots, but that was by far our best defensive effort for four quarters," Conway said. "Sustaining our defensive intensity, that's what we've been preaching for the last month or so. We've been getting a little better, a little better, and tonight was our best defensive effort by far."

Six different Lady Jays scored in the quarter, led by eight points from Caitlin Anderson, and Jefferson City also outrebounded Hickman 9-5.

The Lady Jays kept the pressure on during the second quarter, as they took their biggest lead of the half at 28-4 when Anderson drilled two free throws with 5:04 left before halftime. Conway said he was pleased his team's defensive intensity didn't wane despite the big lead.

"We have been inconsistent this year where we've had two good quarters and two bad quarters, so it's something we've been harping on," he said. "Before that second quarter started I told them, 'We've got to have that same energy, that same intensity. You've got to maintain it.'"

Maintain it they did, as the Lady Jays were up 30-9 at intermission, holding the Kewpies to 3-of-20 shooting (15 percent) for the half.

Jefferson City's lead hit 30 points three times during the third quarter, including the advantage of 45-15 the Lady Jays took into the final period.

The entire fourth quarter was played with the running clock due to the mercy rule, and the biggest lead of the game came on a layup by Kara Daly with 3:02 left that made it 51-17.

But the fourth quarter did still have an interesting storyline. Jefferson City freshman Hannah Nilges, playing in just her second game after being sidelined for the first part of the season due to injury, played the whole quarter at point guard.

"She's two-dimensional in that she can score a little bit from the off-guard spot and she's our second point guard," Conway said. "She had an opportunity to get some reps there in just her second game. We hope she continues to get better and hopefully we're going to become a little deeper."

Anderson ended with a game-high 18 points, while Nilges joined her in double figures with 12. Anderson also led all players with six rebounds.

Emma Chapman was the only Kewpie to reach double figures in scoring, as she had 10 points. She was the focal point of the Jefferson City defense, but Conway was pleased with the way his team guarded all over the court.

"We knew they wanted to go inside to Chapman, but I told the girls, 'We can't just concentrate on her and let other people be wide open,'" he said. "I thought we did a pretty good job closing out on shooters and did a pretty good job of holding them to one shot when they did miss."

Jefferson City (6-4) will play St. Joseph Benton (10-0) at 6 p.m. today at Fleming Fieldhouse for the tournament championship.

"Benton is solid, they're always solid," Conway said. "Coach (Brett) Goodwin always has them ready to play. They're going to come out and guard hard, they're going to play for four quarters and he's got some kids who can score.

"I told the girls it's a challenge and we get to play it on our home floor. That was a goal of ours to get there and now we've got to come ready to play."