Eagle girls fall just short

Published on Saturday, March 13, 2010 11:50 PM MST

courtesy | blake hempstead
Sidney’s Janae Moore dribbles past a Billings Central defender Saturday in Hamilton during the state Class A championship game.

Basketball is a game of momentum, and once you lose it often times it’s hard to get back. Billings Central used a 13-3 run in the second half of the state Class A title game Saturday night to take control, and Sidney just didn’t have an answer. The Rams held off the Eagles to wrap up the 50-42 win and the state championship.

The Eagles jumped out to a nice start in the third quarter as a bucket by Megan Johnson made the score 24-21 in favor of Sidney. Lay-ins by Jordan Sullivan and Janae Moore after Ram turnovers gave the Eagles a 28-22 lead, but it didn’t take long for the Rams to charge back.

Jumpers by Jackie Elliot and Austin Hanser helped the Rams tie the game up at 28. A lay-in by Hanser and free throws by Marissa Stanton gave Central a 32-31 advantage going into the final quarter. Central continued its hot shooting in the fourth as a pair of jumpers by Elliot helped the Rams take a four-point lead.

The Eagles responded as they have all season long as an Alex Hammer three-point play and a shot from behind the arc by Kayla Lake gave Sidney a 37-36 advantage. That, however, was the last lead of the game for the Eagles. Free throws by Stanton and Maggie Powell along with a jumper by Hanser made the score 42-37 with Central leading.

A three by Sullivan with two and a half minutes leading got the Eagles within three, but it was all Central from there. An Elliot lay-in and free throws by Hanser and Stanton helped Central ultimately earn the 50-42 victory.

Sullivan led Sidney with 18 points while Hammer and Whitney Thiel had seven. Johnson added four while Moore and Lake rounded out the scoring with three points.

The first half was even from the opening tip. A Sullivan jumper and free throws by Thiel and Moore gave Sidney an early 6-2 lead, but a Hanser lay-in and an Elliot bucket gave Central a 7-6 lead. A Thiel lay-in and a three by Sullivan helped the Eagles take an 11-7 lead after one quarter.

Central tied the game up at 11 early in the second, but the Eagles gained momentum as Sullivan hit a jumper and added a three-point play. A Hanser jumper tied the game up at 18, but Thiel and Sullivan buckets in transition gave Sidney a 22-21 lead at the half.

With the loss, Sidney’s outstanding season comes to an end. The Eagles, the Eastern A divisional champs, finished with a record of 20-3 in their first season under Coach Jon Skinner. Sullivan and Thiel are the two seniors on Sidney’s roster.

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Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of the Sidney Herald.

A Mom wrote on Mar 19, 2010 4:34 PM:

" The Sidney Eagle girls did have an outstanding season and I would take nothing away from them. However, I need to point out this may be the first championship game played, but it is not the first state trophy. One of my daughters played on the 1990 Sidney Eagles team which place third at the State tournament held in Glendive and had wonderful community support. They always said they were the second winners! You may have to go back to 1972 to find another third place finish for the girls at State. "

Bleacher Bum wrote on Mar 16, 2010 6:44 PM:

" What an awesome season! Thank you Eagles for doing so well and putting Sidney-Eastern Montana on the map.
Defense and positive attitude got the ladies the trophies for first in conference and divisionals and the opportunity for a first time ever to play in a state championship game. Way to go!
Thanks Whitney & Jordan for your composure, leadership, and detemination to perservere.
We have a great team returning in Janae, Kayla, Alex, and Megan. Add to that several up and coming underclasswomen and the Eagles will soar next year.
Hoping Coach Skinner will at the helm next year. He is always positive and it showed in the team and their 'let's win honestly and with pride' attitude.
The band was awesome and Sidney has the best dance team in the state.
Thanx for a great season. "

bb wrote on Mar 16, 2010 5:48 PM:

" thanks jordan for a great 4 years. no one meant more to a program than you did. good luck in missoula. "

eaglefan wrote on Mar 16, 2010 2:25 PM:

" you are right about Alex Hammer!! She was amazing at the tournament. Those shots she hit against Anaconda made the difference in the game. All of the ladies did a wonderful job! They will miss the seniors but the eagles look to be strong next year as well. I can't wait until next year. It's amazing what only one year and Coach Skinner can do to a program! "

Eagle Supporter wrote on Mar 16, 2010 12:38 PM:

" Bringing a trophy home is a fabulous for those Lady Eagles. They have been such an amazing team this year. I agree with eaglefan that the defensive players get no recognition at all in the newspaper which is very sad. Both Kayla Lake and Alex Hammer were amazing in the championship game. Congratulations to all the lady eagles and coach Skinner for bringing this team alive. "

Ramfan wrote on Mar 15, 2010 3:17 PM:

" I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the girls from Sidney on a great season. The people from Sidney can truly be proud of you. Jordan Sullivan and the girls from the Eagle team showed great class and were very gracious after the game, they even took the time to come out of their locker room to congratulate the players from Central. What an amazing display of class by these young ladies, I am sure that it was not easy for them after coming so close only to be disappointed. Jordan Sullivan is a very special player and also showed that she is a very classy young lady both during and after the game. I look forward to watching her excel at UM in the next few years. I am proud of both teams and consider them both champions, they represented the Eastern A well at the State Tournament. Be proud of your Lady Eagles Sidney, they are a very special group. "

sportsfan wrote on Mar 15, 2010 1:23 PM:

" I think Sidney should be proud of the girls basketball team. They fought hard and managed to bring home a trophy for the girls. 1st or 2nd place trophy doesn't matter.This is a first for them. They fought hard and made for a very exciting season to watch. Way to go girls. We are proud of all of you. "

eaglefan wrote on Mar 15, 2010 8:07 AM:

" I am so proud of these young ladies. Being picked to finish forth in the division to second in state is amazing!!! I also want to add that the fan support was amazing. To play with the injuries and such a short bench and still come out where they did shows that the girls are real champions. I also want to comment on the way Kayla Lake played in the championship game. By the article you would not have known the defensive preformence she put on. To many times this never makes the paper but in my opinion she single handidly kept this game close. Also Jordy, playing on two swollen ankles showed so much heart and leadership. We will miss you two seniors!!!!
Thank you has to go out to the Coaching staff but words can't describe the pride you have brought to our town. Thank you eagles you are the real Champions in my book. "

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