Semifinal #1: Rossville vs. Valley Falls

In last year’s JCN Girls’ Invitational Championship, Valley Falls got the best of Rossville in a thrilling 54-50 win in overtime.

On Friday night Rossville got their revenge in another thriller, advancing to the championship game for the second straight year with a 32-30 win over the Dragons.  

Both teams struggled offensively early on as the two teams combined for just 11 first quarter points with the Bulldawgs leading 6-5 after one.

Valley Falls took their first lead of the game early on in the second, and used a 5-0 run in the final 30 seconds of the second quarter to take an 18-16 into halftime while holding Rossville’s leading scorer Amanda Hill to just four points.

Rossville came right back and forced seven Dragon turnovers in the third quarter to take a 26-25 lead into the fourth setting up a thrilling finish.

The Bulldawgs led the majority of the fourth quarter and pushed the advantage to five midway through the quarter, but a key 3-pointer from Valley Falls junior Allison Kearney brought the Dragons back within 2.

After a backcourt violation by Rossville with 40 seconds left, Valley Falls had a chance to tie or win the game. The Dragons drained the clock all the way down inside of 5 seconds, but lost control of the ball and never got a shot off at the buzzer giving the Bulldawgs the win.

Rossville: Amanda Hill – 10, Caila Hill – 8, Jalyn Porter – 4, Lora Shinn – 4, Kylee Badura – 2, Avery Anderson – 2, Sara Shinn – 2.

Valley Falls: Allison Kearney – 12, Reagan Kirkwood – 8, Drew DeLong – 4, Mallory Burns – 3, Rachel Frakes – 3.

Semifinal #2: JCN vs. Pleasant Ridge

In 12 seasons as the head girls’ basketball coach at Jefferson County North, Steve Noll has captured a 2A State Title (2012) and five league titles.

On Friday night Noll added one more accomplishment to his tenure in Winchester, picking career win No. 200 as a Charger while JCN wrapped up a spot in the JCN Invitational Championship with a 61-50 win over Pleasant Ridge.

Despite committing six turnovers in the opening quarter, the Chargers were still able to put up 18 points and lead 18-10 after one. JCN extended the lead to 10 at halftime, 35-25, behind 8 points from senior Jentry Seichepine and outscoring Dragons 17-15 in the quarter.

On multiple occasions in the second half Pleasant Ridge tried to make a run to get back into the game, but each time JCN responded and kept the lead in double digits the rest of the way.

JCN: Annabelle Vaught – 18, Josie Weishaar – 14, Jentry Seichepine – 10, Ravyn Jobbins – 6, Julie Schrick – 5, Madison Vaught – 5, Kaitlyn Schneider – 3.

Pleasant Ridge: Mallory Wagner – 19, Lindsey Heim – 15, Montanna Adams – 5, Kaija Nutsch – 4, Julie Miller – 4, Ashley Nooner – 3.

Saturday Tournament Schedule

Championship 4:30 p.m. – JCN vs. Rossville on KAIR Sports Channel

3rd Place Game 3:00 p.m. – Valley Falls vs. Pleasant Ridge on KAIR Sports Channel

5th Place Game 1:30 p.m. – Perry Lecompton vs. ACCHS

7th Place Game 12:00 p.m. – Oskaloosa vs. Cornerstone