By GREG MENGELT
New Albany and Jeffersonville both suffered season-ending losses Tuesday in the opening round of the Class 4A Jeffersonville Sectional, leaving Floyd Central as the only local team left in the field.
The Highlanders (9-13) will face third-ranked Bedford North Lawrence (21-2) in Friday’s second semifinal after BNL came from behind to beat Jeffersonville 51-42 on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, Seymour (11-10) handed New Albany (5-19) its 11th straight defeat.
The Owls will face Jennings County (16-6) in the first semifinal Friday, weather pending. During the regular season, Jennings beat the Owls 70-42 and Bedford beat Floyd Central 62-28 on Jan. 15.
JEFFERSONVILLE-BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE
The host Red Devils stunned BNL by leading the Stars 38-35 early in the fourth quarter. Jeff led by as many as seven points — at 35-28 — with 3:50 left in the third quarter, but the Stars outscored the Devils 23-7 the rest of the way.
The teams were tied at 16 after one quarter and Jeff took a 29-23 halftime lead behind seven points from sophomore La’Kyra Johnson and six apiece from junior Sophia Reese, junior Cadence Singleton and senior Navaeh Bates in the first 16 minutes.
Jeff, which lost to the Stars 53-31 on Nov. 20, then outscored BNL 8-5 in the first 4 minutes and 10 seconds of the third quarter for its largest lead. The score was tied at 35 at the end of the third quarter and a 3-pointer from junior Brooklyn Carter gave the Red Devils a 38-35 advantage after the first possession of the fourth quarter.
“They came out to compete. They came out feeling like they could win that game,” Jeff head coach Missy Voyles said of her team. “I thought they played a really good game.”
Bedford sophomore Madisyn Bailey — the daughter of former BNL star Damon Bailey’s cousin — gave the Stars the lead for good with a layup with 6:30 remaining. A 3-pointer by Carlee Kern — the Stars’ only starting senior — gave BNL its largest lead at 42-38.
Bedford pushed the lead to 47-38 with just over 3 minutes left, but Jeff cut the margin to four and Reese missed a late layup that could’ve gotten the Devils within two.
“I felt like we tried to force a few things and quit being as aggressive in the third quarter on offense,” Voyles said. “We got a little timid and weren’t being as patient (in the second half).”
The Stars were just 11 for 25 from the line but made enough down the stretch to hold off Jeff, which finishes its season at 10-8. BNL went just 17 for 40 from the field and 6 for 17 from behind the 3-point arc.
Junior Karsyn Norman (14), sophomore Chloe Spreen (13) and junior Mallory Pride (12) combined for 39 of the Stars’ 51 points.
Jeff’s balanced attack was led by sophomore Elle Marble with 10 points. Johnson added nine and Singleton eight for the Red Devils, who scored just 13 points after halftime.
“I’ve got some mixed feelings about (the loss),” Voyles said. “I mean, I’m proud of the way they played. I thought they played some of the best basketball I’ve seen them play in two years, so that’s a huge step.”
NEW ALBANY-SEYMOUR
New Albany trailed Seymour 15-13 at the end of the first quarter, but the Owls scored the first 11 points of the second quarter. Thanks to three 3-pointers from junior Kaylee DeMuth, the Bulldogs crept to within eight at 54-46 with 3:24 left, but Seymour the Owls clinched their second win over New Albany in a 5-day period.
Seniors Maleea Roland and Taylor Treat, who were New Albany’s leading scorers all season, finished with 12 and 11 points, respectively. DeMuth had 11.
“We had a great group of girls, a great group of seniors,” New Albany’s second-year coach Shelby Gliebe said. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t get some wins when we were in games. Tonight, unfortunately, we couldn’t get our offense and defense going at the same time.”
Junior Brooke Trinkle (17), senior Gracie Schrader (15), sophomore Journee Brown (10) and sophomore Kendall Sterling (8) had 50 of the Owls’ 59 points.
“They were ready to play and it didn’t seem like we were,” Gliebe said.
CLASS 4A JEFFERSONVILLE SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
SEYMOUR 59, NEW ALBANY 47
New Albany 13 7 11 16—47
Seymour 15 12 17 15—59
New Albany (5-18): Maleea Roland 12, Taylor Treat 11, Anasha Crowdus 3, Kaylee DeMuth 11, Journey Howard 6, Sophia Corley 3.
Seymour (11-10): Gracie Schrader 15, Journee Brown 10, Brooke Trinkle 17, Kendall Sterling 8, Greer Henry 6, Jaidyn Nichols 3.
3-point field goals: New Albany 5 (DeMuth 3, Treat, Corley); Seymour 3 (Trinkle 2, Schrader 1).
Free throws: New Albany 9-13, Seymour 16-21.
Team fouls: New Albany 19, Seymour 13.
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 51, JEFFERSONVILLE 42
Bedford NL 16 7 12 16—51
Jeffersonville 16 13 6 7—42
BNL (21-2): Chloe Spreen 13, Karsyn Norman 14, Mallory Pride 12, Carlee Kern 6, Madisyn Bailey 4, Ella Turner 2.
Jeffersonville (10-8): Brooklyn Carter 3, Sophia Reese 6, Elle Marble 10, La’Kyra Johnson 9, Cadence Singleton 8, Naveah Bates 6.
3-point field goals: BNL 6 (Pride 3, Norman 2, Kern); Jeffersonville 1 (Carter).
Free throws: BNL 11-25, Jeffersonville 7-11.
Turnovers: BNL 11, Jeffersonville 14.
Team fouls: BNL 11, Jeffersonville 16.
CLASS 4A JEFFERSONVILLE SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, Feb. 1
Seymour 59, New Albany 47
Bedford North Lawrence 51, Jeffersonville 42
SEMIFINALS
Friday, Feb. 4
Jennings County (16-6) vs. Seymour (11-10), 5:30 p.m.
Floyd Central (9-13) vs. Bedford North Lawrence (21-2), 7:30 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, Feb. 5
Semifinal winners, 6 p.m.
