By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – This titanic battle royale was inevitable. With the snap of a finger, half of two great teams will be eliminated, the vanquished turning to dust while the survivor lives on to continue the quest for postseason immortality.
The storyline centers on motivation. Bedford North Lawrence has won 12 consecutive sectional championships, and 38 straight sectional games. It’s an amazing streak of past success that spurs this generation. The Stars don’t want that to end on their watch. Yet they are the underdogs.
BNL, 19-4 and ranked No.14 in the final state poll, will clash with No.5 Jennings County (23-3) in the finale of the Class 4A Sectional 15 tournament at Floyd Central, ground zero for a nuclear collision, on Saturday night. The winner will advance to the one-game regional.
The Panthers have the upper hand in terms of record, ranking, Sagarin computer ratings and a regular-season victory in the first meeting. John Harrell’s basketball website, widely recognized as the authority, lists the Panthers as 9-point favorites, with a 70-percent chance of winning the rematch. The Stars seem a little irritated by the lack of respect as they defend their state title. The difference will be determined in this heavyweight rematch.
“The thing is, we want to win, too,” BNL coach Jeff Allen said. “So it’s going to be a battle.”
The first encounter, on Jan. 3 at Jennings County, was a JC knockout. The Panthers ended BNL’s dominating 25-game winning streak in the series with a 58-41 triumph. Alivia Elmore paced Jennings with 17 points, senior star Juliann Woodard totaled 15 points and 13 boards. That victory was the Jennings springboard to the Hoosier Hills Conference crown and the favorite status for Round 2.
What must BNL do to close that considerable gap? First, Chloe Spreen cannot go it alone. She scored all the BNL points until 31 seconds remained in the first half. She totaled 26 points, but the rest of the Stars were more bystanders than participants while converting only 5 of 22 shots.
Second, the Stars must defend Jennings’ three-pronged attack of Woodard, Elmore and Mollie Ernstes (15 points against BNL). Third, BNL must not allow a Jennings burst. In the first game, that came in the second quarter. Jennings owned a 16-14 lead when it exploded for a 17-2 run to end the half, then pulled away to a 25-point lead in the third quarter.
“That first game, they wanted it more than we did,” Allen said. “They played harder than we did. And we didn’t make shots. It definitely rattled us. But when you have a freshman and sophomore out there, you have to expect a little of that. I think we’ve come a long way. I think it will be a different game.“
Woodard, a Michigan State recruit and All-Star guarantee, averages team highs of 15.8 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Everything flows through her. Ernstes, a deadly perimeter shooter, adds 15.1 points, while Elmore totals 12.6. Woodard had 22 points and 11 rebounds during the sectional semifinal win over Jeffersonville.
“Who do you help off of? That’s a problem,” Allen said. “It makes it really difficult. Woodard is a handful to guard one-on-one. Hopefully we’ll do a good job and not help too much, but you have to help to keep her contained. They have a size advantage on us. We’ll have to be at our best, because they’re an outstanding team. They’re really good.”
BNL will counter with its own superstar in Spreen, who’s averaging 21.1 points and 7.0 rebounds. Madisyn Bailey had been on fire during the last six games, raising her totals to 11.2 points and 4.5 assists. Freshman forward Miley Sherrill contributes 9.6 points and 4.6 boards.
“If we can be ready, make shots, be ready on defense, we’ve grown a lot since we played them,” Spreen said. “We can show up better as a team. No one knew we would be in the championship game. So we’ll bring it. We’re ready.”
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 15
Championship
BNL vs. JENNINGS COUNTY
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Records: BNL 19-4, ranked No.14; Jennings County 23-3, ranked No.5
Sagarin ratings: BNL 91.02; Jennings County 99.62
Last meeting: On Jan. 3 at Jennings, the Panthers posted a 58-41 victory that ended BNL’s 25-game winning streak in the series. Alivia Elmore had 17 points while Juliann Woodard added 15 points and 13 rebounds for Jennings. Chloe Spreen paced the Stars with 26 points.
Previous game story: Jennings takes over HHC throne room
Game notes: Jennings is chasing its first sectional since 2005. BNL has eliminated JC from the postseason five straight years and seven of the last eight. The Stars have won 12 straight sectional titles and 38 consecutive sectional games.
Starting lineups
Bedford NL Stars
F – Chloe Spreen 5-10 Sr.
F – Miley Sherrill 5-9 Fr.
G – Madisyn Bailey 5-9 Sr.
G – Trinidy Bailey 5-7 So.
G – Tori Nikirk 5-6 Jr.
Jennings County Panthers
F – Juliann Woodard 6-0 Sr.
F – Avynn Belding 5-10 Jr.
G – Mollie Ernstes 5-10 So.
G – Alivia Elmore 5-8 Sr.
G – Madelyn McIntosh 5-7 Jr.
