The Jamestown Eagles girls basketball team (1-3) came up just short Dec. 8 in its comeback attempt against Stover, falling 48-42.
In the first quarter, Jamestown led 6-2 with less than 6:00 to go in the quarter. Both teams struggled to score throughout the first period as, with less than 2:00 to go, Jamestown led 7-4. The Eagles still led at the end of the quarter 7-6.
In the second quarter, a basket by Jolene Sorrells made it 9-6, with less than 7:30 left in the quarter. With just more than 4:00 to go in the first half, a basket by Anna Scheperle made it 13-9. Stover would soon take the lead at 14-13 after a three-pointer. Another three-pointer by Stover made it 17-13 with less than 2:00 left before halftime, but Jamestown made it a one-point game after a three-pointer by Ginna Meisenheimer made it 17-16 with less than 1:00 to go in the half. Stover led at halftime 19-18.
Stover opened the second half with an exclamation point, pulling off a 13-2 run that made it a 12-point game at 32-20, with just more than 3:00 left in the third quarter. With the score at 36-25 and less than 1:00 on the clock, a three-pointer by Kylee Russell made it a 36-28 game.
In the final quarter, the Eagles cut into the lead at 42-35, with just more than 3:00 left to play. The Eagles trailed 47-39 with around 40 seconds left in the game; a three-pointer by Meisenheimer started to close the gap and made it a five point game at 47-42 with eight seconds left, but Stover was able to run out the clock and secure the win.
The Eagles struggled with turnovers in the loss, as they had 12 in the first half and eight in the second half. Head coach Melvin Myers said the team can reduce the number of turnovers it concedes in the future as the players get used to the roles they play.
"Kids are taking on new roles, so turnovers are going to happen early in the season," Myers said. "I'm teaching my kids how to be aggressive and sometimes, turnovers are a result of that process. They'll happen less as we become more comfortable with what we're trying to accomplish."
With the fact that the team was able to cut into Stover's lead late in the game, Myers said the team is learning to never give up.
"The fact that we were able to cut into the lead shows that my kids are learning to never give up and that they're beginning to believe in what we're doing and what they are able to do," Myers said. "We're just learning how to win."
Sorrells and Meisenheimer led the team in scoring, as both contributed 12 points, and Anna Scheperle added seven points.
Jamestown's next game is at 6 p.m. Saturday at home against New Bloomfield.