Third sectional crown Carroll girls basketball team claimed their third straight sectional championship Monday night. Team members are (l-r): Front – Cheerleaders Danielle Sunnycalb, Casey Crume and Aleshia Rosenbush; players Jessica Yoder, Carly Yoder, Abby Reinke, Quincy Eller; ball/water girls Libby Eller, Sidney Fisher and Jessie Hickner; and cheerleader Shelby Stephans. 2nd Row (far right) – Cheerleaders Alexis Lees and Baylie Brumbaugh. 3rd Row – Cheerleaders Maizie Wickersham and Sabrina Wilson; players Kate Hickner, Kaitlin Ragan, Paige Barnes, Paige Spesard, Macey Ropes; manager Jessica McCain; players Storm Dreadfulwater and Kayla Kauffman; and cheerleaders Taylor Walters and Allison Nelson. Back – Varsity Coach Mike McCroskey; cheerleader Cayla Macaluso; player Shelbi Fisher; JV Coach Naomi McPherson; player Courtney Benefiel; JV Coach Tom Hedde; player Maria Lewis; Varsity Assistant Coach Jack Malson; player Cassy Malson; and former coach Wayne Esserman. Photo provided The Cougars overcame a hot shooting first-half by the Seeger Patriots to win their third Sectional championship in a row. Carroll used a 13-0 third quarter scoring burst to over come a 3-point half-time deficit and go up by 10 at the third quarter break 31-21. The Cougars held off the late charging Patriots in the fourth to post the 40-35 victory.

Carroll started slowly in the first quarter. Seeger came out red-hot, hitting four 3-pointers along with a deuce to take a 14-9 lead at the break. Carroll responded with patience and better decision-making in the second period and closed the gap to 21-18 at halftime. The Cougar press began to take its toll on the Patriots. Seeger shot 50% from the field including 83% from 3- point land for the half. Although it was low scoring, the Cougars maintained their poise and composure going into the half.

The third quarter belonged to Carroll as they held the Patriots scoreless in the quarter. Carroll opened the period by increasing their defensive pressure. The Patriots could not find their shooting touch. and the Cougars took full advantage, scoring on fast breaks and hitting a couple of threes to eliminate the 21-18 Seeger advantage. By the end of the quarter Carroll had built a 31-21 third quarter lead. That 10-point lead would be the difference in the game. The Patriots found their shot in the fourth, scoring 14 points and cutting the lead to 3 at 38-35 with 1:30 left to play. The Cougars used excellent ball-handling and timely free-throws to hold off the Patriots.

Carroll was led by senior Abby Reinke with 8 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Quinci Eller led all scorers with 16 points and 4 rebounds. Jess Yoder added 10 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals, and Kate Hickner finished with 6 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.

Carroll will be the home team and play Wabash at 10 a.m. Saturday at Lewis Cass in the first semi-final game.

Semi-final, vs. Delphi

This match-up between county rivals was a mirror image of the first meeting early in the season. Carroll raced to a 19-point first half lead and coasted home in the second half, winning 49-26.

The Oracles jumped out early with a 3 by Dani Burge followed by a Whitney Arion 2 for a 5-0 Delphi lead just 2 minutes into the contest. Turnovers plagued both teams in the first quarter with the Oracles committing 13 and the Cougars 9. Carroll used a 12-0 run in the middle of the quarter to take control of the game. Another Delphi 3 by Arion capped the quarter scoring and Carroll led 12-9.

The second quarter was all Carroll. The Cougars outscored Delphi 19-3 in the period. Delphi’s lone basket was a 3-pointer by Arion. Meanwhile, 11 more turnovers for Delphi mounted up and the game was in Carroll’s complete control. The Cougars’ pressure on the ball forced Delphi into poor passes that were intercepted by the Cougars and converted into points. Delphi shot 45% from the field in the first half on 5/11 shooting; however, the lack of shot opportunities was too much to overcome. Carroll shot 48% from the field, including 54.5% from 3-point land in the first half and took more than twice the number of shots as Delphi.

Delphi started the second half the way they ended the first. The Oracles were held to 3 points in the quarter as turnovers continued to haunt them. A Burge free throw and a Summer Sutton lay-up accounted for the 3 points. Meanwhile, Carroll’s Eller and J. Yoder continued to dominate the game with steals, sharp passing and excellent shooting. The Cougars outscored Delphi 13-3 in the quarter and extended their lead to 29 at 44-15.

Delphi won scoring in the quarter, 11-5, with both teams playing reserves for the majority of the period. Delphi was led by Arion with 9 points and Jordayn Jargstorf with 6.

Carroll had contributions from J. Yoder with 19 points and 5 steals; Eller added 13 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 7 steals. Reinke and Carly Yoder combined for 8 points, (including Yoder’s first 3 pointer) 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Hickner added 5 points and 8 deflections.