By Jeff Richards

GIRLS BASKETBALL

McConnellsburg 61, Claysburg-Kimmel 32.  Junior point guard Journie Jefferson scored a season high 27 points to lead the Lady Spartans over the visiting Claysburg-Kimmel Lady Bulldogs in a cross-conference game on January 2^nd.  The Lady Spartans (6-4, 0-0 ICC-S) controlled the game with a consistent double-digit lead over the latter three quarters to outpace the Lady Bulldogs (3-7).  They forced turnovers, imposed steals, and collected a season best 30 offensive rebounds and 47 total, while keeping their own turnovers low.

The first quarter both squads battled closely when Spartan Brookelynn Gelvin closed the gap to one with a buzzer beater three with the score reading 15-14, Claysburg by one.  The second quarter the Spartans pressured the backcourt and shut out the Bulldogs for six minutes and scored 18 straight, leading 36-17 at the break. The Spartan bench kept control in the third, and the team pulled ahead further in the fourth, triggering a running clock.

Jefferson led all scorers and added eight rebounds.  Gelvin added eight points and posted a season high 10 rebounds, and 5 steals.  Off the bench, Alivia Newman pulled eight rebounds.

The Bulldogs were led by Zailee Bush with 17 points and seven rebounds. who was sent to the line to make nine of 18 (13 in the second half) of the squad’s 29 free throw attempts.  

MCCONNELLSBURG (61)

DeShong 3 0-2 6, Jefferson 10 3-4 27, Gelvin 3 1-4 8, Buterbaugh 2 0-0 4, Lowery 2 0-0 4, Graham 2 0-0 4, Hendershot, 1 0-0 2, Newman 2 0-0 4, Pistner 1 0-0 2, Totals 26 4-10 61.  3-point goals =5 (Jefferson 4, Gelvin). Totals: 47 rebounds (30 off/17 def), 16 assists, 17 steals, 2 blocks, 9 turnovers, 24 fouls, 2FG% 28%, 3FG% 28%, FTM% 40%.  Team stats: DeShong 4 reb, 5 ast; Jefferson 8 reb, 4 ast, 4 stl, 2 chg tkn; Lowery 5 reb; Buterbaugh 2 reb; Hendershot 1 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk; Newman 8 reb; Buterbaugh 4 reb, 1 chg tkn; Gelvin 10 reb, 5 ast; 5 stl; Pistner 5 reb; Graham 1 blk.  

CLAYSBURG-KIMMEL (32)

Tipton 1 0-0 3, Bush 4 9-18 17, Larson 0 1-2 1, McCloskey 1 1-4 3, Francona 3 2-3 8, Dibert 0 0-2 0, Totals 9 13-29 32.  3-point goals = 1 (Tipton).  Totals: 30 rebounds (7 off/23 def), 4 assists, 5 steals, 4 blocks, 31 turnovers, 13 fouls, 1 tech foul, 2FG% 40%, 3FG% 8%, FTM% 45%.

Claysburg-Kimmel … 15     2     8      7   —  32

McConnellsburg …… 14   22     6    19   —  61

No JV.  JH-A: McC 26. C-K 41.  JH-B: McC 22. C-K 15.

Next up: McConnellsburg visits Fannett Metal Lady Cardinals for a varsity only ICC game on January 6^th at 6 p.m.