Sarah Sowers of Alder cuts a part of the net after winning the CBC divisoinal title against London. The senior Lady Pioneer notched three points in the team’s home victory.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
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A 43-22 victory over Madison County rival London clinched the Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division title for Jonathan Alder’s girls basketball team.
“I told them we had to finish the story,” JA coach Allen Eggleston said. “We went through so much adversity-wise, but until the final buzzer sounds, we haven’t finished our story.”
“They knew we had a mission to accomplish.”
The highs and lows were surely felt by the Lady Pioneers who were an even 5-5 midway through the season.
Winning eight out of their next 10 games, the Scarlet and Black earned a chance to win the divisional crown when they faced the Red Raiders.
“This game was very important,” senior Sarah Sowers said during the postgame celebration. “The vibe was high.”
“We didn’t know what this season would bring going into it,” Eggleston said. “Having players go in and out of the program, fighting through injuries, illness and outside distractions, they’ve done nothing but meet every single challenge.”
From the first quarter on, the Lady Pioneers were not going to let the moment slip away.
Prior to tipoff, tribute was paid to Alder seniors Evan Platfoot, Avery Murdock, Jaxyn Murdock and Sowers.
“The memories we’ve made are important and very special,” Sowers said. “It was worth while.”
“They mean a whole lot, especially in terms of this senior class bringing us from the dumps last year,” Eggleston said. “They brought us back on top.
“I am super proud of this senior class.”
London’s Katelyn Duvall scored the first points of the contest on a three-pointer.
Sowers got the Alder offense going with a shot from beyond the three-point arc.
The score jolted the home crowd in celebration.
“It was amazing,” Sowers said. “I saw an open bucket and I shot it.”
Platfoot notched two back-to-back baskets, boosting the Lady Pioneers to a 7-3 lead at the 4:29 mark of the opening quarter.
Avery Murdock tallied two free throws before Jaxsyn Murdock collected a field goal.
The Red Raiders called a timeout after struggling to find openings within Alder’s tight defense.
Coming out of the timeout, Platfoot struck back with a trey for a 14-3 lead.
JA went on to take a 16-3 advantage by the end of the period.
Natalie Hess grew JA’s lead with an easy layup, putting the score at 18-3 within the first minute of the ensuing quarter.
The Lady Red Raiders tallied only two points on charity tosses by Addison Thomas and Addison Sims.
With just 16 seconds left in the first half, another three-pointer from Platfoot pushed Alder out to a 25-5 spread.
The third quarter was much like the first two.
JA stayed vigilant, thanks to a pair of three-pointers by Platfoot and a couple of baskets from Natalie Walker.
London was able to notch 10 points during the frame.
Another basket by A. Murdock, though, sent Alder into the fourth quarter with a 37-15 lead.
London outscored JA 7-6 in the fourth period, but it wasn’t nearly enough as the local team clinched the divisional title.
“We are very excited the cut the nets down,” Sowers said.
Platfoot led Jon Alder with 18 points.
She was complimented by J. Murdock and Walker, who both tallied eight.
Alder improved to 13-7 overall, along with an 8-2 conference mark.
The Lady Pioneers will conclude the regular season at Southeastern on Saturday.
The team’s journey will then enter the postseason.
The Lady Pioneers are the fifth seed in the Division II Central District bracket. They will host No. 14 Licking Valley on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 7 p.m.
“We are just going to keep fighting and keep the energy high on the court,” Sowers said.
“We have to keep that hunger,” Eggleston said. “I always tell the girls they are the authors to their own story and they get to control how their story will end.”
Jonathan Alder
Hess 1-0-2, J. Murdock 3-2-8, Platfoot 6-2-18, Walker 4-0-8, A. Murdock 1-2-4, Sowers 1-0-3. Three-point goals: Platfoot 4, Sowers.
London
Adkins 1-0-2, Markley 2-2-6, Duvall 1-0-3, Thomas 1-1-3, Sims 2-3-8. Three-point goals: Duvall, Sims.