Lady Squires Win Share Of TRC Title
January 25, 2019 at 7:46 a.m.
Lady Squires Win Share Of TRC Title
By Aaron [email protected]
Thursday was the fruition of Everett’s and the Lady Squires’ years-long pursuit, as they won 43-40 at Tippecanoe Valley for a share of the TRC championship.
“They had to believe all the way, from start to finish,” Everett said. “We concluded with a TRC win, and it feels amazing.”
Everett, who is in his fifth year at the helm for Manchester, led the Lady Squires to their first TRC title since 2012.
They share the title with Northfield, which also went 8-1.
The game was close throughout, with one-point margins after the first three quarters.
The game was tied at 29 when Kennidy Lauer hit a free throw to give the Lady Squires a lead they did not relinquish.
Kennedy Fierstos followed that up with a three-pointer to stretch Manchester’s lead to four, but Valley’s Sophie Bussard drew a foul and made two free throws.
Fierstos hit another bucket, which was followed by a pair of free throws from teammate Emma West.
Again, Bussard responded, this time on a put-back from her own shot to make the score 37-33.
West hit two more from the stripe for a six-point lead, but a three-pointer from far beyond the arc by Bussard and another trey by Jillian Walls tied the score at 39 late in the game.
“We call it bounce back,” Everett said. “How much time does it take you to move from one mistake and be ready to do what you need to do?”
Fierstos did what she needed to do.
She drew a foul and hit two free throws for 41-39 lead.
A Valley miss was followed by an offensive foul by Manchester, which was followed by back-to-back misses by the Lady Vikings.
Craig rebounded the second miss, and drew a foul on the attempted put-back.
She made the first free throw but missed the second, and Manchester’s Jirni Cripe was fouled while rebounding the ball.
She went to the line and hit two clutch free throws for a 43-40 lead.
Valley’s attempt at a corner trey was blocked, and Manchester was victorious.
Everett noted the conference title was the result of a long process.
“Our seniors down to our freshmen, right now they’re enjoying this win,” Everett said. “They also understand it’s not just them. It’s everybody who came before them and also built this in the first four years.”
Fierstos finished with a game-high 20 points.
“She stepped up and played like a senior would in the TRC (title game), last game of the (regular) season, when it matters,” Everett said.
Bussard recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Lady Vikings (15-5, 7-2 TRC), who also had a chance at a share of conference crown.
The Lady Squires keyed on her throughout the game, limiting her to two first-half points.
“They were pushing (Bussard) pretty hard, but that’s not anything we haven’t seen,” said Valley coach Chris Kindig.
Kindig pointed to the Lady Vikings’ poor shooting – 14 of 45 from the floor – as the reason for the loss.
“We haven’t shot the ball this poorly all year,” he said.
Each team concluded its regular season Thursday. Valley has a bye in Class 3A Sectional 21 and will play the winner of Lakeland and Wawasee Feb. 1 at West Noble.
The Lady Squires will host a Class 2A Sectional 37 game Tuesday against Rochester.
MANCHESTER 43,
TIPPECANOE VALLEY 40
M 9 10 9 15 – 43
TV 8 12 9 11 – 40
Manchester – Jirni Cripe 0-3 2-2 2, Kennedy Fierstos 8-15 2-2 20, Emma West 0-3 6-8 6, Kiera Hatfield 1-7 0-2 3, Mackenzie Day 0-1 0-0 0, Eva Bazzoni 2-9 1-1 6, Kennidy Lauer 1-2 2-6 4, Totals 12-40 13-21 43.
Valley – Sidney Wagner 3-13 1-1 7, Emma Craig 3-6 3-6 9, Jillian Walls 1-5 1-2 3, Hayley Backus 2-7 2-2 4, Sophie Bussard 4-10 3-3 14, Makenzie Woodcox 1-4 0-0 2, Totals 14-45 10-14 40.
Three-pointers – Manchester 7 (Fierstos 4, Bazzoni 2, Hatfield), Valley 2 (Walls, Bussard); Rebounding – Manchester 34 (Bazzoni 8), Valley 29 (Bussard 10); Turnovers – Manchester 12, Valley 11; Fouls – Manchester 16, Valley 14; Fouled out – none; Records: Manchester 15-7, 8-1 TRC; Valley 15-6, 7-2 TRC
JV – Tippecanoe Valley 25,
Manchester 22
Manchester – Ainsley West 7, Morgan Parrett 4, Ranissa Shambarger 4, Keilan Creager 3, Emma Garriott 2, Makenzy Meyer 2.
Valley – Karina Young 9, Ashley Butler 7, Mercedes Snapp 4, Brianna Sheetz 3, Brayden Baney 2.
Thursday was the fruition of Everett’s and the Lady Squires’ years-long pursuit, as they won 43-40 at Tippecanoe Valley for a share of the TRC championship.
“They had to believe all the way, from start to finish,” Everett said. “We concluded with a TRC win, and it feels amazing.”
Everett, who is in his fifth year at the helm for Manchester, led the Lady Squires to their first TRC title since 2012.
They share the title with Northfield, which also went 8-1.
The game was close throughout, with one-point margins after the first three quarters.
The game was tied at 29 when Kennidy Lauer hit a free throw to give the Lady Squires a lead they did not relinquish.
Kennedy Fierstos followed that up with a three-pointer to stretch Manchester’s lead to four, but Valley’s Sophie Bussard drew a foul and made two free throws.
Fierstos hit another bucket, which was followed by a pair of free throws from teammate Emma West.
Again, Bussard responded, this time on a put-back from her own shot to make the score 37-33.
West hit two more from the stripe for a six-point lead, but a three-pointer from far beyond the arc by Bussard and another trey by Jillian Walls tied the score at 39 late in the game.
“We call it bounce back,” Everett said. “How much time does it take you to move from one mistake and be ready to do what you need to do?”
Fierstos did what she needed to do.
She drew a foul and hit two free throws for 41-39 lead.
A Valley miss was followed by an offensive foul by Manchester, which was followed by back-to-back misses by the Lady Vikings.
Craig rebounded the second miss, and drew a foul on the attempted put-back.
She made the first free throw but missed the second, and Manchester’s Jirni Cripe was fouled while rebounding the ball.
She went to the line and hit two clutch free throws for a 43-40 lead.
Valley’s attempt at a corner trey was blocked, and Manchester was victorious.
Everett noted the conference title was the result of a long process.
“Our seniors down to our freshmen, right now they’re enjoying this win,” Everett said. “They also understand it’s not just them. It’s everybody who came before them and also built this in the first four years.”
Fierstos finished with a game-high 20 points.
“She stepped up and played like a senior would in the TRC (title game), last game of the (regular) season, when it matters,” Everett said.
Bussard recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Lady Vikings (15-5, 7-2 TRC), who also had a chance at a share of conference crown.
The Lady Squires keyed on her throughout the game, limiting her to two first-half points.
“They were pushing (Bussard) pretty hard, but that’s not anything we haven’t seen,” said Valley coach Chris Kindig.
Kindig pointed to the Lady Vikings’ poor shooting – 14 of 45 from the floor – as the reason for the loss.
“We haven’t shot the ball this poorly all year,” he said.
Each team concluded its regular season Thursday. Valley has a bye in Class 3A Sectional 21 and will play the winner of Lakeland and Wawasee Feb. 1 at West Noble.
The Lady Squires will host a Class 2A Sectional 37 game Tuesday against Rochester.
MANCHESTER 43,
TIPPECANOE VALLEY 40
M 9 10 9 15 – 43
TV 8 12 9 11 – 40
Manchester – Jirni Cripe 0-3 2-2 2, Kennedy Fierstos 8-15 2-2 20, Emma West 0-3 6-8 6, Kiera Hatfield 1-7 0-2 3, Mackenzie Day 0-1 0-0 0, Eva Bazzoni 2-9 1-1 6, Kennidy Lauer 1-2 2-6 4, Totals 12-40 13-21 43.
Valley – Sidney Wagner 3-13 1-1 7, Emma Craig 3-6 3-6 9, Jillian Walls 1-5 1-2 3, Hayley Backus 2-7 2-2 4, Sophie Bussard 4-10 3-3 14, Makenzie Woodcox 1-4 0-0 2, Totals 14-45 10-14 40.
Three-pointers – Manchester 7 (Fierstos 4, Bazzoni 2, Hatfield), Valley 2 (Walls, Bussard); Rebounding – Manchester 34 (Bazzoni 8), Valley 29 (Bussard 10); Turnovers – Manchester 12, Valley 11; Fouls – Manchester 16, Valley 14; Fouled out – none; Records: Manchester 15-7, 8-1 TRC; Valley 15-6, 7-2 TRC
JV – Tippecanoe Valley 25,
Manchester 22
Manchester – Ainsley West 7, Morgan Parrett 4, Ranissa Shambarger 4, Keilan Creager 3, Emma Garriott 2, Makenzy Meyer 2.
Valley – Karina Young 9, Ashley Butler 7, Mercedes Snapp 4, Brianna Sheetz 3, Brayden Baney 2.
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