It took only three Jays to down the Rock Bridge girls basketball team.
Boasting 31 combined wins and just four losses this season entering Thursday night, the Central Missouri Activities Conference matchup between Jefferson City and Rock Bridge had the makings of a barnburner.
But it didn’t end that way.
Held to single digits in the first half, the Bruins were blown out 44-25 on their home floor, with all of Jefferson City’s points coming from a trio of scorers.
Both teams struggled to get shots to fall early on. Rock Bridge’s Kyrah Brodie opened scoring with a strong finish at the rim and later knocked down two free throws. Those would be the last points for the Bruins the rest of the first quarter — and most of the second quarter. It took seven minutes of second-quarter action and countless misses before Rock Bridge found the bottom of the net again.
Jefferson City (18-1, 4-0 CMAC), however, did what it needed to bust out of the slump.
Hannah Linthacum nailed her first five shots, including splashing three 3-pointers, to put the Jays up 12-4 going into the second quarter. After starting down 4-0, Jefferson City scored 22 straight points before Rock Bridge star guard Averi Kroenke managed to break the run with her first bucket of the game.
More:Thursday’s Battle-Rock Bridge boys basketball game called off due to COVID-19
When the Bruins (14-4, 3-1) looked up to the scoreboard at halftime, they found themselves down 22-6. Things looked dire. A big part of Rock Bridge’s game is its stifling full-court press, a press that can only be implemented after a made shot or a dead ball, neither of which were found much in the first half.
Coach Jill Nagel says the problem is only compounded when the Bruins’ offense is reliant on fast-break points from takeaways.
Both Kroenke and Nagel chalked the tough outing on offense to an off night.
“We kept shooting and eventually they fell, but it was just a little too late,” Kroenke said.
Rock Bridge shooters had a better touch in the third quarter, nearly doubling the Bruins’ first-half scoring output in a single frame.
Christina Maltsberger came off the bench and popped a 3. Kroenke did her best to will the Bruins back into the game, flying around on defense picking up steals and rebounds. She also found better offensive rhythm in the second half, going for 11 by herself.
“At that point in the game you have nothing to lose, but you have a lot to win,” Kroenke said. “If you get some steals, hit some shots, you’re right back in it. So just sell out, go really hard.”
Fifteen points was the closest the deficit got, however, with shooters like Hannah Nilges knocking down shots for the Jays to put the game out of reach.
Nilges led all scorers Thursday with 19 points. Linthacum followed her with 17.
Kroenke’s 13 points paced the Bruins.
Rock Bridge has just four games remaining before the Class 6 District 8 Tournament. The Bruins’ next contest is at home against winless Smith-Cotton on Monday.