The REPORTER
The Sheridan girls basketball team made history last Saturday, winning its first ever regional championship.
The Blackhawks pulled away from Northeastern to win 46-31 at the Class 2A regional game at Southwestern Shelbyville. The contest was close for the first three quarters, but Sheridan powered through the fourth period, outscoring the Knights 15-2 in that quarter.
Sheridan coach Jaidlin Bradshaw cuts down part of the net after the win. (Dwight Casler)
“I’m so proud of the girls,” said Blackhawks coach Jaidlin Bradshaw. “They could have easily, easily given up when Northeastern went on a run, and they just persevered. They just decided they were not going to get beat.”
The Knights led 10-9 after one quarter, but Sheridan took a 16-15 lead by halftime. Cecilia Timme and Kenzie Garner both scored five points in the first half.
Garner then took over the game in the third quarter, where she scored 13 of the Blackhawks’ 15 points. Sheridan led 31-29 going into the fourth, and the ‘Hawks wore down the Knights in that final period.
Sheridan’s Kenzie Garner dominated the second half, scoring 22 of her 27 points during that time. (Allison Waitt)
Garner continued to dominate, adding another nine points in the fourth for a total of 27 points. She also had nine rebounds, five steals and four blocked shots.
“Kenzie Garner came to life in the second half,” said Bradshaw. “We had a little chat and I told her that she had to suck it up if we wanted to win and she did just that. Put the team on her back and then you have everybody else handling the ball with the best composure that we have all year.”
Sadie Timme also had nine rebounds, with Cecilia Timme collecting eight and Nova Cross pulling five. Sadie Timme dished out five assists as well.
Sheridan is now 20-5 for the season and advances to the program’s first semi-state in history. The Blackhawks will play at Shelbyville, taking on Eastern Hancock around noon Saturday in the second semifinal game. The first semifinal features Brownstown Central and Linton-Stockton and tips off at 10 a.m. The championship game is set for 8 p.m.