Spencerville’s Briley Cook shoots against Delphos St. John’s Emma Will during Tuesday’s game at Robert A. Arnzen Gymnasium.
DELPHOS – Spencerville took the lead midway through the first quarter and never looked back in a 49-42 road win at Delphos St. John’s.
Delphos St. John’s began with a spark, as senior Emma Will lifted the Blue Jays with a pair of three-point field goals before Spencerville went to work inside the paint.
“Coming down towards the end, we thought we could do things better, but we are in game No. 1, so we are pleased,” Spencerville coach Greg Ekis said. “With a young group, it is always great to come out and win and give our team momentum. We are happy to get the first one out of the way.”
Freshman Briley Cook recorded the first points of her varsity career and the Bearcat’s season, and then bench play gave them the lead for good. Cook finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds in her Bearcat debut.
Junior Savannah Griffith brought a spark off the bench and added four quick points to push Spencerville ahead.
“I thought Savannah (Griffith) came in and played extremely well,” Ekis said. “As soon as she got in the game she brought a spark. We were really pleased with her.”
The Spencerville defense limited the Blue Jays to just one field goal following the fast start by Will. Six different individuals recorded a basket in the first quarter, after eight minutes of play the Bearcats led 18-10.
Spencerville continued to smother the Blue Jay offensive attack; Delphos St. John’s was held to two field goals in the second. Will added a basket, and senior Abby Kerner connected from downtown, but the Blue Jays were outdone by the Bearcats 10-point stanza. Will led her team with 15 points.
Sophomore Clara Goecke engineered her highest scoring quarter following the halftime break after adding five points to her scoring total, but the Blue Jays slowly began to work away at their deficit. She finished with 11 points.
“Clara (Goecke) did a great job for us tonight. She has a motor that never shuts off, she is one of the girls that can’t come off the floor for us and makes our team go.” Ekis said.
While the Bearcat defense continued to limit the Delphos St John’s scoring attack, the Blue Jays were able to outscore the Bearcats in the third quarter to set up an exciting fourth frame. After three, Spencerville led 36-27.
Delphos St. John’s outdueled Spencerville once again in the fourth quarter, but the Blue Jays were never able to reach within six points of the Bearcats.
Senior Abby Kerner erupted for three makes beyond the arc, Faith Cross added one as well. Kerner tallied 14 points in the loss.
The Delphos St. John’s attack was stifled by Briley Cook’s four points to cap off her double-double.
“Briley (Cook) did a great job tonight,” Ekis said. “She is a great post presence and allowed our guards to get out on the wings, and we are very pleased with her. I think she did a great job.”
Nadia Ricker recorded three points in the frame to cap off her five-point outing, Eilan Muniz also added four points to seal the Spencerville victory.
Delphos St. John’s (0-2) returns to action Friday at Wayne Trace. Spencerville (1-0) continues its start to the season on the road against Bath on Thursday.
Spencerville 49, Delphos St. John’s 42
Spencerville`18`10`8`14`–`49
St. John’s`10`6`9`15`–`42
Spencerville (49)
Briley Cook 14, Clara Goecke 11, Heidi Keller 9, Eilan Muniz 6, Nadia Ricker 5, Savannah Griffith 4
Delphos St. John’s (42)
Emma Will 15, Abby Kerner 14, Faith Cross 6, Megan Kerner 5, Ava Hershey 2
Nate Stidham wrote this story for The Lima News.
