Even with their leading scorer and 1st team Putnam County League member playing sparingly in the first half due to early fouls, it looked like Continental was poised for a second half rally in the Continental/Delphos St Johns OHSAA Girls Basketball Division IV Ottawa Glandorf District Bluffton University Sectional Semifinal. It was the Blue Jays who hit the bottom of the nets to start the second half and take a double digit lead into the fourth quarter and propel them to the victory. A tough defensive game started out with the Pirates getting on the scoreboard first with baskets from Olivia Logan and Bryn Tegenkamp, Pirates 4-0. Tegenkamp would pick up her second foul with 5:21 left in the first quarter. A pair of Blue Jay free throws and a basket tied the game at 4. The Pirates would retake the lead with another basket by Logan, Pirates 6-4. The Blue Jays would hit a 3 to take a 7-6 lead at the 1st quarter break.
The Pirates would go on a 5 point run to start the second quarter and put them up 11-8. Tegenkamp would make a basket and Makenzie Shock a basket and a free throw for the Pirates points. Tegenkamp would pick up foul 3 with 1:21 left in the second quarter. The Blue Jays would finish off the second quarter scoring with a 6 point scoring run to take a 13-11 lead into the locker room at half.
The Pirates would tie the game early in the third on an Olivia Crossgrove basket but that would be the only points for the Pirates for a while as they could not find the bottom of the net. The Blue Jays could as they went on a 10 point run (hitting a pair of baskets and a pair of 3s to take a 23-13 lead. The Pirates would get a free throw from Crossgrove to stop the run but only to have the Blue Jays counter with a 3. Blue Jays 26-14. The Pirates would get a basket from Reese Knowles to finish off the third quarter scoring. Blue Jays 26-16 after 3.
The Pirates would open up the 4th quarter scoring with a Crossgrove free throw to cut the Blue Jay lead to 9 26-17. A Blue Jay basket put them back up by 11, 28-17. The Pirates would get 4 points from Tegenkamp to pull within 7, 28-21. The Blue Jays would ice the game by going 4-4 from the line. Blue Jays 32-21 final.
The Pirates were led in scoring by Bryn Tegenkamp with 8 points, Olivia Logan and Olivia Crossgrove both put in 4 points. Makenzie Shock scored 3 and Reese Knowles had 2. The Pirates did not make a 3 point shot while the Blue Jays put in four 3 pointers. The Pirates were 5-12 from the line while the Blue Jays were 8-11.
#10 seed Continental falls to 3-20. #8 seed Delphos St Johns improves to 6-17 and will take on #1 seed Leipsic 20-2 on Saturday at Bluffton University at 6:00.
This closes the season for the 2022-23 Lady Pirates season highlighted by a pair of Putnam County League wins. Five Seniors, Reese Knowles, Bryn Tegenkamp, Olivia Logan, Macie Cordes, and Cheyenne Rose, donned their Pirates basketball uniforms for the last time. Thanks for the memories Seniors and good luck in the future.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
