×

AMAZING COMEBACK: Jersey Shore pulls incredible comeback to defeat Sullivan County, 41-38

Olivia Edler (10) of Jersey Shore High School runs down the court and gets ready to set up a play for her Lady Bulldogs. Jersey Shore pulled an amazing comeback to defeat Sullivan County, 41-38. (The Express/Tim Weight)

JERSEY SHORE — The Griffins came, but it was the Bulldogs who conquered.

After trailing by six points entering the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs closed the game on a 15-6 run to defeat the unbeaten Sullivan County Griffins 41-38. With the victory, Jersey Shore improves its record to 6-2 on the season.

“The key to the game tonight was can we push the pace, get them a little tired and out-rebound them,” Jersey Shore head coach Darrin Bischof said. “I don’t know if we out-rebounded them, but I think we did a good enough job to win the game.”

The Bulldogs entered halftime trailing 21-17 and in the first two quarters had issues adjusting to the Griffins’ superior size. The Griffins boasted 5-players measured who at least five-foot-ten as the team out-rebounded JS 33-21. But heading into the game Bulldogs head coach Darrin Bischof was already prepared for Sullivan County’s height to create obstacles for his squad.

“We knew that coming in size would be a problem for us,” Bischof explained. “I thought in the second quarter we did a great job of boxing-out. And our press in the third and fourth quarter, causing causing turnovers and getting transition points, really helped.”

“We were a little stale on offense,” he added. “Sullivan County is so long and it’s tough to get inside.”

After falling behind by six with six-minutes remaining in the game, JS began to mount a comeback when Hannah Kauffman pick-pocketed a Griffin ball handler at the top of the key and raced down the court for an easy bucket to bring the game within six points. Kauffman then created another turnover and led a 2-1 fastbreak that ended with with an Olivia Edler layup, cutting the Griffins’ lead to just four points. After the game, Bischof praised Edler who was dominant on both sides of the ball.

“I thought Olivia hit some key shots and stepped up for us,” said Bischof. “She can play defense or slash to the basket.”

Following two-converted foul shots by the Griffins, Edler again responded and nailed a three pointer, cutting Sullivan County’s lead 36-35.

“Tonight she hit some shots from the outside, which she hadn’t been doing, but it’s been getting better,” Bischof said about Edler, who finished with a game-high 12 points. “I kept telling her ‘good shooters keep shooting,’ and she did tonight. That was a big three to get us back into the game there in the fourth quarter.”

The Bulldogs then claimed its first lead of the game with 60 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter when Hannah Kaufman forced another turnover and connected with Edler in the paint for an easy layup to give Jersey a one-point lead. Jersey Shore extended its lead to three after a pair of free throws and secured the victory after Sullivan County’s Alexis Randall three-point shot fell short in the final seconds of the game.

“We’ll take the win because that was a very good Sullivan County team,” Bischof said.

Jersey Shore (6-2) returns to the court Jan. 5 to face off against the Montoursville Warriors.

SC 14 7 11 6- 38

JS 8 9 9 15- 41

Scoring Leaders

Sullivan County: Scoring- Sarah Parrish- 11 points, Kaiti Beinlich- 9 points, Stefanie Kramer- 8 points,Leah Beinlich- 4 points, Ashley Faus- 4 points, Alexis Randall-2 points Jersey Shore: Olivia Edler- 12 points, Liz Severino- 9 points, Hannah Kauffman- 8 points, Averie Hess- 7 points, Sidney Trunzo- 3 points, Harley Lorson- 2 points

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $3.69/week.

Subscribe Today