JHS tops Coyotes at West Region

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The Blue Jays kept their season alive, but in order to prolong it another week they’re going to have to pull off an upset today in their state qualifier.

Fifth-seeded Jamestown rolled to an 8-5 victory over No. 8 Williston on Friday to earn a spot in a state-qualifying game with Bottineau today at 3 p.m. after the Braves lost to Bismarck 5-1 in the semifinals.

The Blue Jays were swept by the Braves in the regular season, but neither game was decided in regulation. Bottineau used overtime to beat Jamestown in the first meeting this season and then topped the Blue Jays in a shootout the second time.

Jamestown was caught up in a tight contest with Williston until late in the second period when Jake Stilwell, the Blue Jays’ leading goal scorer, found the net for the second time of the period to put JHS up 6-3.

Stilwell polished off his hat trick in the third period with an empty-netter in the final minute. He also recorded an assist to give him four points in the game.

Jamestown (8-14-1) had outscored Williston 16-1 in the regular season, but with their season on the line, the Coyotes (3-19-0) mustered one of their best offensive outings of the season.

Williston scored three straight goals to take a 3-2 lead less than three minutes into the second period. Nick Satermo scored the go-ahead goal for the Coyotes, but the lead lasted less than three minutes when Riley Schafer scored his second goal of the game with 11:59 to go in the period.

Brady Anderson and Alex Williams also scored for the Blue Jays as part of a five-goal middle frame that all but ended Williston’s chances.

Jakobi Lux also registered a goal for the Blue Jays in the first to help Jamestown jump out to an early 2-0 lead for the second time in the tournament.

Tygh Yatskis stayed in net for the Blue Jays and stopped 25 shots to help keep Jamestown’s season alive.

Ty Berg started for Williston and made 38 saves.

Jamestown 8, Williston 5

Williston 2 2 1 — 5

Jamestown 2 5 1 — 8

Scoring

First period

1, JHS, Riley Schafer (Ben Sorenson, Dakota Spitzer), 1:41; 2, JHS, Jakobi Lux (Alex Williams, Marcus Beedle), 2:07; 3, WHS, Oliver Sorgard (unassisted), 5:05; 4, WHS, Keaton Leininger (Jordan Axness, Austin Arndt), 6:42.

Second period

5, Nick Saterno (Colten Hansen), 2:11; 6, JHS, Schafer (Sorenson), 5:01, PP; 7, Jake Stilwell (unassisted), 6:08; 8, JHS, Brady Anderson (Stilwell), 7:44, PP; 9, Stilwell (Williams), 11:35; 10, WHS, Axness (Leininger), 13:17; 11, JHS, Williams (Matt Grounds), 14:54.

Third period

12, WHS, Adam Kemp (Axness, Arndt), 4:08; 13, JHS, Stilwell (unassisted), 16:46.

Penalties: Williston 4 for 8 minutes; Jamestown 3 for 6 minutes.

Goalie saves: Williston, Ty Berg 9-12-17—38; Jamestown, Tygh Yatskis 8-8-9—25.

Records: Williston 3-19-0; Jamestown 8-14-1.

Tags: sports, jays, hockey