On Thursday evening, the visiting Titans from Tenison Woods College, a high school in Mount Gambier, South Australia, faced off against the Jackson Timberwolves varsity girls basketball team in an excitingly close match-up.
Jackson’s Hannah Mack sunk a deep three pointer to lead off the first quarter, but the Titan’s Sarah Nulty was fouled on the next possession as she dropped in a short jumper in the paint, and her free-throw tied the game at three. Emma Merwin’s hard drive to the basket regained the Timberwolves’ lead momentarily, but Nulty quickly answered and made another free-throw to take the lead for the Aussies.
Aided by five Jackson fouls, crisp play by the Tenison Woods girls allowed them to open up a significant lead (14-8) against the lethargic-looking Timberwolves in the first period.
Defense ruled and neither team put many points on the board for the first 7 minutes of the second quarter (17-10), but in the closing minute, the Titans tacked on an extra four points (including a 20-footer by Ellen Brown) to Jackson’s two, entering halftime with a commanding 21-12 lead and looking as though they’d be able to cruise to an easy win.
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But the Timberwolves came out of halftime recharged, and the game quickly changed direction. Jaydn Kirton powered the ball in from the paint to start things off, and her free-throw made it three. Moments later, a steal and fast-break layup (and made free-throw) by Riley Mekanik added three more points. Kirton then picked-off a Titan pass, and a three pointer from Merwin closed the gap to only two points (23-21), and a weak-side six footer by Mekanik tied the game with five minutes remaining in the 3rd.
For the following ten minutes, the score remained close, with a three-pointer by Brown pulling Tenison Woods within a single point of Jackson with three minutes left in the game (38-39). But as the clock wound down, Jackson’s defense stepped up with steals and blocks, keeping the Titans off the board. Final score: 45-38. Winner: Jackson High School.