WCDS girls defeat Wayne Christian

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on December 2, 2015 1:48 PM

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bdavis@newsargus.com

Wayne Christian Academy guards drove into the lane with a purpose to score on second-chance shots, but Wayne Country Day's Lexi Jeffreys ruined that purpose.

Jeffreys recorded a season-high 22 rebounds in the Chargers' 50-40, non-conference win on Tuesday evening.

The Chargers trailed the Eagles by five points until Jeffreys collected her first rebound of the game, drew a foul underneath the basket and stole the ball for WCD to begin its full-court offense.

The Eagles led the Chargers, 11-10, at the end of the first quarter. But WCD slipped past WCA as soon as officials signaled the start of the second quarter.

"This is the first time we played man defense," WCD head coach Claude Waters said. "We changed everything around. We wanted to come out aggressive."

Lillian Freeman grabbed the ball from an Eagles' guard and drove the court for a jump shot. Hannah Neal grabbed a rebound, drew a foul and made both free throws.

Adayah Ginn caught a missed shot from the Chargers and drove to the basket for a layup, but that would be the Eagles' only basket of the second quarter.

Jeffreys continued pulling down rebounds. She scored four points to close out halftime, 19-13, over the Eagles.

WCA's Emily Wells opened third-quarter play with a basket and sank two free throws. Kelsey Norris drove in the paint for a layup.

The Eagles got within one point of the Chargers just before the fourth quarter, 30-29.

Norris drew a foul and hit one free throw, but then shot a six-foot jumper. Abi Harrelson drove the length of the court for two more points.

WCD's Madison Britton assisted Jeffreys with a basket, and Jeffreys snatched another rebound and scored. Freeman assisted Jeffreys with two more points, and the Chargers led the Eagles by four points.

Harrelson stole the ball and ran the court for a 2-point bank shot. Tia Hall assisted Wells with a 2-point shot to end the game.

Ginn ended the game with 10 points and was 5 of 6 from the free throw line. Gurley had eight points and was flawless from the free throw line. Norris had 10 points as well.

"We came out and pressed, and did well to start with," WCA head coach Roger Longwell said. "They (Chargers) began to break the press by beating our kids down low. I think pretty much if I look at the tape, the boards is where we got beat, pretty much down inside."

Jeffreys ended the game with 20 points, and Freeman had 13 points and was 5 of 6 from the free throw line. T.T. Ramsey had nine points and was 4 of 5 from the free throw line.

"She (Freeman) is one of our key horses as for our guard play," Waters said. "For the last two years, I've implemented to her that this team is as good as you are when you want to play at that level. She brought it out today.

"Between Lillian Freeman and Lexi Jeffreys, you can't go wrong. Her (Jeffreys) team high so far is 18 (rebounds). She had 18 in her first game."

Wayne Country Day (1-4 overall) travels to Trinity Christian next Tuesday, while Wayne Christian (0-5) travels to Northwood Temple next Thursday.