LYNN–West Side got off to a hot start in Thursday’s opening round of the Class 1A State Tournament at Hillcrest High School, but Jasper’s Lady Pirates battled back to tie the game by intermission and eventually put away the scrappy Lady Eagles for a 73-68 victory.
West Side took a quick 4-0 lead as Haley Delk bounced to Laney Lucas for a layup off the opening tip then Kayla Brock scored inside but Laken Smith answered from left block. Lucas responded with a 3-pointer up top off an assist from Haley Turney and Delk split the Lady Pirates’ defense for a bucket in heavy traffic but Jaimie Villines got a putback and Logan Kelley scored in transition, pulling Jasper within three at 9-6.
Lucas countered with a 3-pointer from left wing but Smith and Brock traded free throws before Villines scored in the paint. After Turney made two from the stripe, Rilee Elliott drilled a 3-pointer from left wing at the buzzer, giving the Lady Eagles an 18-9 lead going into the second quarter.
Brock opened the second with a bucket from right block off an assist from Delk but Jasper fired back with eight straight as Villines sank 3-of-4 free throws then Smith and Staci Vaughan each scored a basket inside, leaving West Side with a 20-18 lead.
Lucas hit a free throw then she drove right side for a layup but Villines popped a 3-pointer from right wing before Caitlin Stewart converted a steal by Delk into a pair of free throws.
With the Lady Eagles leading 25-21, Jasper took its first lead with six consecutive as Smith turned an offensive rebound into a pair of free throws and Kelley picked a steal and finished then Vaughan got a stick back.
Elliott retaliated with a free throw and Lucas bombed her third trey of the first half, this time from left wing as West Side reclaimed a two-point lead before Smith grabbed an offensive rebound and hit a short jumper from right side, leaving the contest knotted at 29-all going into the locker room.
West Side opened the third quarter with a 6-0 run as Brock used her quickness for a bucket from left block and Brock added two free throws then she grabbed a defensive rebound, drove the floor and dished to Lucas for two more, giving the Lady Eagles a 35-29 lead.
Jasper responded with four straight as Kelley hit a turnaround bank from right side and Vaughan made a baby hook but Brock answered with a jumper from right wing.
Brock turned a steal into a pair of free throws as West Side pushed its lead back to six but Kelley scored from right block and later made a free throw before Villines completed an old-fashioned 3-point play, tying the game at 39-up.
Following a West Side timeout with 2:34 remaining, Jasper scored four more as Smith used a spin move for a bucket and Kelley hit two foul shots before Megan Milidonis snuck in the backside for a layup off an assist from Elliott.
But Jasper closed the third period with five consecutive as Lacy Villines drained a 3-pointer from right wing and Brandi Cooper hit a short bank off an inbounds play, giving the Lady Pirates a 48-41 lead entering the fourth quarter.
West Side hung tough in the fourth as Turney lobbed to Delk for a layup but Kelley made a fall away jumper just inside the charity stripe before Delk drove the lane and sank a baby hook.
Jaimie Villines countered with a pair of free throws but Brock picked a steal under the goal and scored then Elliott drilled a 3-pointer from right corner off a steal and assist from Turney.
Jasper pushed its lead to 57-50 when Vaughan canned a pair from the line and Kelley scored in transition but Brock turned an offensive rebound into a pair of free throws before Jaimie Villines recorded a basket in the paint.
Brock kept the Lady Eagles in the game with a stick back but Smith drove left baseline for a layup before Brock made two from the stripe. After Lacy Villines and Brock traded foul shots, Smith knocked down a pair for Jasper, giving the Lady Pirates a 64-57 lead with only 1:31 remaining.
Lucas sliced through the middle of the lane for a layup but with time running out Smith and Brock swapped a pair of free throws then Jaimie Villines added another from the line, giving the Lady Pirates a 67-61 cushion with 54.7 seconds left.
Lucas drew a foul on a 3-pointer and made all three shots as the Lady Eagles pulled within three but Lacy Villines made two from the line before Stewart got a stick back. After Jaimie Villines hit one from the line, West Side failed to score and Jaimie Villines added two more, giving Jasper a 72-66 lead.
Bethany Branscum drove right side of lane for a layup with just under 15 seconds remaining but Jaimie Villines hit another free throw to set the final at 73-68.
Jaimie Villines led Jasper with 22 points, Smith added 19 and Kelley followed with 16. Brock paced West Side with a game-high 24 points and Lucas followed with 21.
Turney is the lone senior starter for the Lady Eagles, who have the returning talent to make another run at state next season.
