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	The Manchester Enterprise A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Trojan rally spoils finale for Dutch

Dutch finish 7-13 on year after seven-point loss to East Jackson

By Ed Patino, Staff Writer

PUBLISHED: February 21, 2008

For most of the game, it looked as if the Manchester junior varsity girls' basketball team would end its season on a winning note.

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The East Jackson Trojans had other ideas and made a fourth quarter rally for a 48-41 victory over the Flying Dutch in a Cascades Conference game Feb. 15 at Manchester High School.

The Dutch held a three-point lead after three quarters, but East Jackson took control in the final eight minutes. The Trojans began getting around Manchester's defense and closed the game with a 17-7 run for the victory.

For Manchester (7-13), the loss followed the script of several setbacks this year in which one sluggish quarter was the difference.

"We felt like we were in control of the game, but in the second half we fell back into some bad habits," Manchester coach Katie Bennett said. "We were lazy on defense in the fourth quarter."

The Dutch started the game hot and raced to a 15-9 lead by the end of the first quarter. Defense took over in the second quarter as the teams combined for 13 points. After exchanging baskets and defensive stops, Manchester carried a 22-15 lead into halftime.

Both teams regained their offensive forms in the third quarter and combined for 28 points. Although it maintained its lead throughout the frame, Manchester began seeing the advantage shrink and the Trojans slowly chipped away. East Jackson pulled to within 34-31 by the end of the third quarter, setting the stage for its big run in the fourth.

For the game, Manchester was held to 21 percent shooting, including 3-for-22 from behind the arc. The Dutch also finished 8-for-20 from the free-throw line.

The Dutch defense forced 17 steals in the game, while their bench outscored East Jackson's bench 14-9. Both teams scored 20 points inside the paint.

Amanda Barker and Taylor Heldt led the attack for Manchester. Barker finished with 12 points, nine rebounds, three assists and six steals. Heldt added 10 points, six rebounds and three steals.

"Taylor had a great game and Amanda was a leader for us," Bennett said. "All of my sophomores have stuff to add when they step up to varsity."

Taylor Parks scored five points and grabbed four rebounds, while Stephanie Steele had three points, three rebounds and two assists. Chelsea Barker also had three points and three assists and Amanda Davis and Logan Caszatt both had two points and three assists. Tabitha Withrow grabbed seven rebounds, while Jordan Ridenour finished with three rebounds for the Dutch.

"I'm proud of how the girls played throughout the season," Bennett said. "They're a lot stronger team now than they were at the beginning."

Jasmine Briston scored 12 points to lead East Jackson. Hillary Jenski and Amanda Hanson each added nine points for the Trojans.

Dutch at Grass Lake

The Manchester junior varsity girls' basketball team was held without a field goal in the fourth quarter in a 44-37 loss to the Grass Lake Warriors in a Cascades Conference game Feb. 12 at the Joe Bechtel Athletic Complex.

The Flying Dutch trailed by three at halftime, but rallied in the third quarter and pulled into a 32-32 tie entering the fourth. It was Grass Lake that took over after that as its defense forced the Dutch into turnovers and rushed shots. The Warriors also solved Manchester's defense and closed the game with a 12-5 run.

Amanda Barker finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and six steals to lead the Dutch. Stephanie Steele added six points and three rebounds, while Tabitha Withrow had four points and nine rebounds. Taylor Parks and Logan Caszatt each scored four points and grabbed six rebounds and Amanda Davis forced 11 steals for Manchester.

Staff Writer Ed Patino can be reached at 428-8173 or epatino@heritage.com.