IPSWICH – Aberdeen Christian won its third girls’ basketball game of the season Tuesday night, and this one was unlike the other two.
The Knights claimed a 39-38 overtime Lake Region Conference victory over an Ipswich team that entered the contest with a 10-5 record.
“I knew we had a chance to compete just because we’ve been getting so much better and we’re starting to understand basketball a little bit,” said Knights coach Matt Rohrbach. “And we matched up really well early on in the game and it just felt like we kind of belong here. This is not a fluke, like we can compete.”
There were a couple big plays that helped secure the overtime win. Sophia Eichler rebounded Jolie Fogarty’s missed shot and forced overtime with a layup at the buzzer.
“I don’t know what she ate or drank or what pregame, but she was an animal tonight,” said Rohrbach. “Jo had a really good attack to the basket, couldn’t get it to go and she was just right there to clean it up. She’s such a good kid and we love Soph. She works her butt off and is just a great kid. I’m glad she’s on my team.”
That wasn’t the only time the Knights were able to take advantage of second-chance points. Eichler collected five offensive rebounds to give Christian other opportunities throughout the game.
“We got so many shots early. I was looking at my assistant coach Marcus (Robinson), I’m like man, we are playing well, we just really can’t seem to get one to go. Because we had like 3 or 4 offensive rebounds in the first couple possessions,” Rohrbach said. “The girls just relentlessly not allowing missed shots to get in their head and affect the way they’re going to play.”
With 10.8 seconds remaining in overtime and the Tigers trailing by one, Eichler stole the ball on the in-bound pass forcing the Tigers to foul her.
“She was all over the place and getting steals and rebounds all night long. And that was huge,” said Rohrbach. “There was so many times tonight that they were trying to set something up and she would like tip the ball and just kind of break the momentum, and just be in the right spot with defensive pressure.”
Reagan Jett also played a key role in the win as the eighth-grader finished with seven points, two of which came on an inbound pass with 0.4 seconds remaining in the first quarter. After that shot, the Knights trailed 10-8.
“She has so much raw talent that she’ll do some things sometimes and you’re like where has that been. Because she can do a lot of things on the court that a lot of people can’t do, because of her height and athleticism,” said Rohrbach. “She’s only going to grow and get better, especially with how much she’s enjoyed playing the game.”
Christian’s Ari Johnson led all scorers with 14 points.
“She was just all over the place defensively and then hit that 3, which was so fun to see because she really can shoot the ball,” Rohrbach. “She was really good tonight and we needed every bit of what she gave us offensively and defensively.”
Ipswich received seven points from Brianna Geditz, and sixth apiece from Jalyssa Hutson, Anna Nierman, and LaVayah Russell.
With just three games remaining in the regular season, the Knights, 3-13, will look to keep improving to set themselves up for success in the final few games.
“Wanting to play our best basketball at the end of the season. We feel really confident going into this run of Langford and Hitchcock-Tulare and Wilmot, and then ultimately that play-in game (in Region 1B),” said Rohrbach. “We just want to continue to grow together. That’s what we really want.”
ABERDEEN CHRISTIAN (3-13): Ari Johnson 5 3-4 14, Jolie Fogarty 5 0-0 11, Molleigh Hofer 1 0-0 3, Sophia Eichler 1 2-6 4, Reagan Jett 3 1-1 7. Totals 15 6-11 39
IPSWICH (10-6): Brianna Geditz 3 1-2 7, Marley Guthmiller 2 0-0 4, Jalyssa Hutson 2 1-2 6, Tristan Geditz 1 2-4 5, Anna Nierman 3 0-2 6, Adelyn Pollock 2 0-0 4, LaVayah Russell 2 0-0 6. Totals 15 4-12 38
Aberdeen Christian 8 20 28 37 39
Ipswich 10 17 33 37 38
3-point field goals – Johnson, Jolie Fogarty, Hofer; Hutson, T. Geditz, Russell 2. Total fouls – Aberdeen Christian 11; Ipswich 11. Rebounds – Aberdeen Christian 50 (Eichler 15); Ipswich 56 (Guthmiller 16). Turnovers – Aberdeen Christian 21; Ipswich 13. Assists – Aberdeen Christian 7 (Jacie Fogarty 3); Ipswich 11 (T. Geditz 5). Steals – Aberdeen Christian 10 (Jolie Fogartt 3, Jacie Fogarty 3); Ipswich 15 (Guthmiller & Hutson 4). Blocks – Ipswich 1 (Guthmiller).
