Tuesday, the Bulldogs and Wildcats met up on the basketball court in girls action, and the result was a back-and-forth battle that finished with a strong defensive effort by the visitors. In the end, the contest would belong to the Bulldogs, as they were able to hold off a late Central Mountain run for the 59-49 victory.

“Central Mountain always comes out and competes and we know that. We needed to match that. We had the effort with the kids being in compete mode,” said Jersey Shore coach Mike Schall. “We asked for them to compete and outcompete their opponent. The only way is to compete smart. We had some personnel keys and the kids did it most of the time very well.”

Jersey Shore had its outside game going as they netted nine triples in the ten-point win. Offensively, Marley Lehman finished with 16 points for Jersey Shore while Avery Depasque and Kylie Schall both had 13. Rounding out the team’s top scorers was Sadie Schall with 12.

Central Mountain made their share of threes as well, posting four.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Jersey Shore's Kylie Schall (15) dribbles the ball during a girls basketball game on Tuesday Jan. 6, 2025, at Central Mountain. The Bulldogs won 59-49.

Leading the offense for the Lady Wildcats was Reagan Weaver, who put together a team-high 18-point performance while sister Camdyn Weaver followed with 15. Reagan Weaver finished with a double-double, pulling down 12 rebounds. And Payton Williams finished her night with 10.

“I tip my cap to them (Jersey Shore). They shot the ball well tonight. Late in the game we decided to put in some pressure. That was something we haven’t done all year,” said Central Mountain coach Scott Baker. “Perhaps we found something that will help us break the lid off of some of these low scores we’ve had. We’ve had a hard time in the half court scoring. So, we got to find a way to score some easier points.”

The Wildcats started off strong in the first stanza.

Reagan Weaver got things started as she hit a shot underneath off the tip. And the Wildcat defense posted a turnover and the transition game put the ball down into the hands of Camdyn Weaver, who did not disappoint as she scored on a short jumper.

Seconds later, she was also at the right place at the right time, hitting a second jumper, making it a 6-0 Central Mountain lead and forcing Jersey Shore to call a time out.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Jersey Shore's Leena Loomis (4) battles Central Mountain's Reagan Weaver (22) for a rebound during a girls basketball game on Tuesday Jan. 6, 2025, at Central Mountain. The Bulldogs won 59-49.

Out of the time out, Central Mountain added a free throw by Morgan Davis, making it a seven point advantage.

But the Lady Bulldogs rallied back quickly, via the three.

Jersey Shore scored its first points on a triple by Marlee Lehman with 3:34 left in the first.

On the next Wildcat possession, Payton Williams pulled down an offensive board and put it up making it a 9-3 advantage. Less than a minute later, Jersey Shore posted up and made another three point bucket, this time it was Kylie Schall, cutting it to a 9-6 advantage.

Central Mountain would hold fast to the lead as the buzzer sounded leading 14-8.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Central Mountain's Payton Williams (23) drives to the basket during a girls basketball game against Jersey Shore on Tuesday Jan. 6, 2025, at Central Mountain. The Wildcats fell 59-49.

The second quarter belonged to the Bulldogs as they posted 20 points on offense while their defense was able to keep the Wildcat offense in check with just a lone triple from Camdyn Weaver. Sadie Schall had the hot hand in the period, posting nine.

When the intermission got underway, Jersey Shore held a 29-17 advantage.

Both teams battled to a stalemate in the third, finishing with 13 points each in the stanza.

Trailing 42-30, the Wildcats would attempt one last charge at the lead.

Battle they did, closing an 11-point deficit to as close four before the Bulldog defense would stop the momentum as they hung on to the ten-point win.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Jersey Shore's Azelyn Dincher (3) drives for a layup during a girls basketball game on Tuesday Jan. 6, 2025, at Central Mountain. The Bulldogs won 59-49.

In the final stanza, the Wildcats outscored Jersey Shore 19-17. But it would be too little too late as the Bulldogs held on to win, 59-49.

Jersey Shore 59, Central Mountain 49

JS 9 20 13 17 – 59

CM 14 3 13 19 – 49

JERSEY SHORE (59)

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Central Mountain's Alaina Carnahan (5) battles Jersey Shore's Marlee Lehman (11) for possession during a girls basketball game against Jersey Shore on Tuesday Jan. 6, 2025, at Central Mountain. The Wildcats fell 59-49.

Leena Loomis 2 1-3 5, Avery Deposque 4 4-4 13, Marley Lehman 5 2-2 16, Sadie Schall 3 5-8 12, Kylie Schall 4 2-2 13. Totals 18 14-19 59.

CENTRAL MOUNTAIN (49)

Morgan Davis 0 2-4 4, Lane Walker 1 0-0 2, Maren Davis 1 0-0 2, Camdyn Weaver 6 0-0 15, Reagan Weaver 6 2-3 18, Payton Williams 3 2-2 10. Totals 19 6-9 49.

Three-point shots: JS – Lehman 4,Deposque, S. Schall, Kylie Schall 3. CM – Williams 2, Camdyn Weaver 2.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Jersey Shore's Avery Depasque dribbles past a screen from teammate Marlee Lehman (11) during a girls basketball game on Tuesday Jan. 6, 2025, at Central Mountain. The Bulldogs won 59-49.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Central Mountain's Camdyn Weaver tries to get past a Jersey Shore defender during a girls basketball game against Jersey Shore on Tuesday Jan. 6, 2025, at Central Mountain. The Wildcats fell 59-49.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Jersey Shore's Marlee Lehman (11) takes a shot as multiple Central Mountain defenders surround her during a girls basketball game on Tuesday Jan. 6, 2025, at Central Mountain. The Bulldogs won 59-49.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Central Mountain's Morgan Davis prepares to take a free throw during a girls basketball game against Jersey Shore on Tuesday Jan. 6, 2025, at Central Mountain. The Wildcats fell 59-49.