Blue Jays rout Williston

• Rebekah Horgan

(John M. Steiner / The Sun) Jamestown High School’s Rebekah Horgan goes to the basket against Williston’s Keyanna Enget on Saturday at the JHS gym. The Blue Jays won 86-35.

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McKayla Orr took it upon herself to make sure the fourth-ranked Jamestown girls basketball team had a fast start on Saturday.

The 5-foot-4 junior guard scored seven of her team’s first 10 points in an 86-35 West Region rout of Williston at the JHS gym.

“We always start off slow; we needed to start fast,” said Orr, though the Blue Jays did boast a 19-point first-half lead over Bismarck on Friday night before holding on for a six-point win. “Coach (Andy Skunberg) says we have to start fast to get momentum going.”

It worked to a tee, as the Blue Jays forced 17 Williston turnovers in the first half en route to a 38-4 lead and a 59-20 advantage at halftime. Orr had 12 of her 16 points in the first half and also had a team-high six rebounds and three steals.

“McKayla’s starting to come on now,” said Skunberg, who noted she also had 17 points against Bismarck. “She’s getting more confident shooting, and with Kyra Dewald and Erin Mullowney hitting (3-pointers), that’s an aspect people have to start guarding.”

It was balanced as usual for Orr, whose seven-point run was made up of a 3-pointer, a layup from a mid-court steal and two free throws.

“I try to penetrate a lot, but I’ve got to hit the outside shots, too,” Orr said.

The Blue Jays, winners of seven straight, improved to 11-3 in the West Region and 13-4 overall, and need to beat Bismarck St. Mary’s (5-9, 5-11) on Tuesday to lock up the No. 2 seed for the West Region tournament, which starts March 7 in Bismarck.

“We’re really working well together,” Orr said. “We all pass the ball. Nobody’s selfish.”

Fresh off her 37-point outing against Bismarck, Dewald led all scorers again with 17 points, all of which came in the first half. She added five steals.

Also in double figures were Paige Peterson (12) and Billie Buchanan (10). Erin Mullowney and Addie Eamon were close with nine and eight points, respectively.

Williston, which remained winless at 0-15 and 0-18, was led by Keaten Ell and Shelby Njos, who each scored seven points.

Jamestown 86, Williston 35

Williston 20 35

Jamestown 59 86

Williston: Keaten Ell 7, Shelby Njos 7, Kayla Barke 6, Molly Haagenson 6, Amanda Nelson 4, Maria Semenko 4, Kaylen Barstad 1. Totals 11 8-14 35

Jamestown: Kyra Dewald 17, McKayla Orr 16, Paige Peterson 12, Billie Buchanan 10, Erin Mullowney 9, Addie Eamon 8, Rebekah Horgan 5, Sami Johnson 4, Katelyn Willer 3, Allie Smith 2. Totals 32 17-24 86

3-pointers: W 4 (Barke 2, Njos, Ell), J 7 (Mullowney 3, Dewald 2, Orr 2). Rebounds: W 23 (Haagenson 5), J 38 (Orr 6). Assists: W 0, J 6 (Dewald 2). Blocks: W 0, J 7 (Willer 4). Steals: W 8 (Amanda Nelson 3), J 20 (Dewald 5). Fouls: W 18, J 18. Fouled out: None. Turnovers: W 28, J 15.

Sun sportswriter Chris Aarhus can be reached at (701) 952-8462 or by email at caarhus@jamestownsun.com

Tags: sports, basketball, jays