For the first time in 18 years Continental High Girls Basketball team will be making plans on playing in the District Tournament. In 2008, under Coach Greg Spitnale, the Pirates advanced to the Regionals, no Sectional titles since then. On Saturday #5 seed Continental traveled to #4 seed Delphos St Johns for the OHSAA DVII Northwest District 3 Sectional finals. The teams entered with identical records and the fans were looking forward to a close fought battle. A number of turning points in the game ended up with the Pirates picking up the win in the final moments of the fourth quarter with 2 starters on the bench fouling out. It started out with the Blue Jays putting in the first 4 points. The Pirates matched the four with a pair of baskets from Olivia Crossgrove. A 3 by the Blue Jays and a 3 by Kamryn Searfoss tied the game at 7. A pair of baskets put the Blue Jays back up by 4, 11-7. A second 3 by Searfoss pulled the Pirates to within one after 1. Blue Jays 11-10. A pair of free throws by Cassie Pier put the Pirates up for the first time 12-11. A Blue Jay basket and a Morgan Shock free throw and the game was tied at 13. The Blue Jays converted a pair of free throws while the Pirates countered with a pair of Crossgrove free throws. 15 all. A Blue Jay basket was followed by Crossgrove converting a 3 point play. Pirates 18-17. A 3 by the Blue Jays and a pair of Crossgrove free throws (5-5 from the line in the second quarter). 20 all. The Blue Jays would take the lead into the locker room with a free throw. Blue Jays 21-20 at half.
Searfoss opened up the third with a 3 to put the Pirates back in the lead 23-21. A Blue Jay basket tied the score at 23. Cassie Pier drained a pair of free throws for a Pirate 2 point lead 25-23. A 3 by the Blue Jays put them back up by 1 26-25. Searfoss would hit her 4th 3 of the day to put the Pirates up 28-26. The remainder of the quarter was a free throw fest with Blue Jays going 2-2, to tie the game at 28. Mckenzie Shock would make a free throw and Crossgrove a pair to put the Pirates up 31-28 heading into the fourth quarter.
Mckenzie Shock would put the Pirates up by 5 making a basket Pirates 33-28. 3 straight baskets by the Blue Jays put them up 34-33. Shortly after this both teams played with a starter on the bench with Searfoss picking up her 5th foul for the Pirates. Crossgrove made a basket to put the Pirates in front 35-34. A Blue Jay basket and they regained the lead 36-35. Crossgrove would hit again to put the Pirates back up 37-36. A free throw by the Blue Jays tied the game at 37. The Pirates took the lead for good as they would put in the next 7 points as Stegbauer and Crossgrove would make a basket and Mckenzie Shock would make a free throw and basket. Pirates 44-37. Mckenzie Shock would foul out with less than a minute so the Pirates were down 2 starting guards. A Pirate foul on a Blue Jay 3 and then the Blue Jays making all 3 free throws made it a 4 point game. 44-40 Pirates. Pirates defense held supreme and Crossgrove would go 2-2 from the line and Morgan Shock 1-2 to salt the game away. Pirates Sectional Champs 47-40.
Olivia Crossgrove led the Pirates with 21 points with at least 3 blocks and 7 rebounds. Kamryn Searfoss picked up 12 points. Mckenzie Shock added 6 points and 4 steals. Kinley Stegbauer scored 4 points. Morgan Shock and Cassie Pier both scored 2 points. Ella Siefer and Brystol Fitzwater added valuable defense for the Pirates but did not score in the game. The Pirates Searfoss made four 3 pointers the Blue Jays made 3. The Pirates were 17-25 from the line with Crossgrove going 9-9. The Blue Jays were 11-21.
Continental improves to 8-15 and will travel to Ottawa Glandorf on Wednesday to take on Miller City in a District Semifinal game. Miller City was seeded #1 while the Pirates were seeded #5. Delphos St Johns falls to 7-16.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
