No. 1 goes down: Blue Jays lean on defense to deal Century first N.D. loss

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Bismarck Century repeatedly tried to feed standout Hannah Larson late against Jamestown on Tuesday night.

But the No. 1-ranked Patriots struggled with their entry passes thanks to a Jamestown team that used stifling defense en route to 47-46 West Region victory at the JHS gym. It was Century's first loss to a North Dakota team this season.

“Our defense really showed tonight,” said senior Billie Buchanan, who was second on her team in scoring with eight points. “We wanted to make sure they didn't get to their season average.”

The Patriots entered the game averaging 68 points per game, but it was obvious right away they were going to be held below their average. The Blue Jays held them to just nine points over the first 9 minutes of the game.

“We just didn't execute very well,” Century coach Ron Metz said. “They took a lot of things away that we tried to execute.”

It was a far cry from the 25-point loss the Blue Jays suffered on Century's home court on Jan. 15.

“There was a big difference in the energy that we had to start the game,” Metz said.

But Jamestown was the team to fall behind early, trailing 9-4 until a putback from Rebekah Horgan jumpstarted a 13-2 run, capped by Miah Dabill's 3-pointer off the right wing with 8 minutes, 10 seconds remaining. The Blue Jays led by as many as eight (21-13) in the first half.

But in the second half, Century desperately tried to get Larson the ball in the paint. It worked at times, as the forward finished with a team-high 13 points, 10 of which came in the second half.

“We knew it was going into Hannah,” Jamestown coach Andy Skunberg said. “We knew they'd go inside. I thought the girls did a good job on her today.”

Century turned it over on bad passes into the post on three of their final five possessions.

“We couldn't get it in there without a tip, a deflection or it getting stolen,” Metz said. “You've got to expect games like this.”

Larson made a layup off a wing pass to get the Patriots within two at 46-44 with 14 seconds to go in the game, but Jamestown's Kyra Dewald hit the first of two tries from the free-throw line for a three-point advantage.

Century's Macy Lynch pushed the ball up court and pulled up for what looked to be a game-tying 3-pointer with 8 seconds to go. She drained it, but with her foot on the line.

Century actually had a chance to win after stealing the following inbounds pass, but a baseline jumper was airballed and a scramble ensued while time ran out.

The win was the fifth in a row for the Blue Jays, while they halted Century's 14-game winning streak.

Dewald finished with a team-high 13 points, despite being held to just two made field goals. She finished 9-of-10 from the charity stripe.

“They did a good job of trying to take her away,” Skunberg said. “She was off, but the rest of the group picked her up. All the kids picked it up a little.”

Jamestown (9-3 region, 11-4 overall) visits Bismarck High on Friday night, looking for a season sweep of the Demons.

Jamestown 47, Bismarck Century 46

Century 24 46

Jamestown 29 47

BC: Hannah Larson 13, Macy Lynch 9, Jen Benz 7, Ashley Bohrer 6, Jordyn Jossart 5, Katie Chase 5, Alaina Furcht 1. Totals 18 7-9 46

J: Kyra Dewald 13, Billie Buchanan 8, Miah Dabill 7, Rebekah Horgan 6, Paige Peterson 6, Addie Eamon 4, McKayla Orr 3. Totals 18 9-15 47.

3-pointers: BC 3-18 (Jossart, Benz Larson), J 1-9 (Dabill). Rebounds: BC 31 (Larson 11, Jossart 10), J 36 (Peterson 8, Orr 7). Assists: BC 0, J 5 (Dewald 2). Steals: BC 8 (Larson 3), J 11 (Peterson 5, Dewald 3). Blocks: BC 2 (Larson 2), J 0. Fouls: BC 18, J 14. Fouled out: None. Turnovers: BC 18, J 13.

Records: BC 13-1 West Region, 15-2 overall, J 9-3, 11-4.

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