High-achieving Chiefs (02/10/04)

PORTLAND — The Chiefs set a goal. Now all that remains is a Wilson in the way.

The East Jay eighth grade girls basketball team is just one victory away from a perfect season, and they will try to complete the year unblemished when they host the Muncie Wilson Panthers Thursday.

“Awesome,” said Kristen Foreman after practice Monday when asked what it would be like to finish the year without a defeat.

“It would be a dream come true,” added Paige Klinger.

It may have been a dream, but the Chiefs also knew their chance at perfection this year was real.

They went 17-2 in 2002-03, losing just once in the regular season to the Delta Eagles. Their other loss came in the Midwest Athletic Conference Invitational Tournament to the Versailles Tigers.

The Chiefs won’t get a chance to avenge the second of those losses, but they did take care of Delta.

In early January the Chiefs put their perfect record on the line against the Eagles and looked to be in trouble. But, they rallied from a one-point deficit heading into the final period to take a 33-29 victory.

They had a big test against Fort Recovery a week later, but rebounded for an early deficit for a 34-26 win.

East Jay faced its most difficult test barely a week ago when it played the Muncie Northside Titans.

The lead was 5-0 after the first quarter, but Northside came roaring back for a tie at 15-15 with one period to play. Then the Titans took control, and had East Jay up against the wall as they led by three less than a minute to play.

However, the Chiefs would not let their unbeaten streak die. Abby Loy faked a shot and passed to Dana Horn, who in turn passed to Cassandra Huelskamp.

Huelskamp buried a 3-pointer to tie the game at 24-24, and East Jay went on to win by a 28-27 final in overtime.

“We just pull together and play as a team,” said Abby Loy of the Chiefs’ several close wins. “Right when Cass (Huelskamp) had the ball I wasn’t scared (about losing) anymore.”

“(Against) Northside I thought we might be in trouble,” said East Jay coach Ed Geesaman. “We had been out of school for a week.

“We didn’t play very well. We were down four points. We called timeout and the big thing with this group was they didn’t lose their composure. We didn’t shoot a three all game until the last shot when we needed it.

“I just knew we were going to win once we tied it up and went to overtime.”

To a person the coach and players said the biggest improvement the team has made this year to have a chance at perfection is on the defensive end.

The Chiefs have used a full-court pressing look to take their opponents out of their flow. And, Geesaman said, they have done a much better job of helping on post defense and playing the weak side.

Abby Loy has paced the offense, scoring 13.1 points per game for East Jay. Cassandra Huelskamp is next averaging 6.6 points, and Dana Horn and Shelby Rines each add 5.5.

Horn runs the point for Geesaman’s squad, while Huelskamp (4.8 rebounds per game) and Rines (4.4 rpg) control the inside.

The coach also said his bench — the roster is 14 players deep — has been a huge key to the success this year.

His top bench scorer is Sharon Dirksen, while Amber Edmundson offers help inside. Also in reserve roles for the Chiefs are Paige Klinger, Stephanie Wellman, Kristen Foreman, Lauren Edmundson, Candace Betz, Alissa Myers and Vikki Taylor.

Geesaman touted the non-starters for being able to step into any situation and be effective.

The composure, defense and team unity have brought them this far, although there were differing opinions on what the best moment of the year has been.

Horn said the victory over Delta was the highlight of her season.

“That’s the only team that beat us (during the regular season) last year,” she said.

Foreman pointed to Huelskamp’s big 3-pointer and the win over Northside.

“We did not come this far to lose,” she said.

It’s for that reason the Chiefs can trump the Delta game, the Northside game and every other contest this season Thursday night.

The agreed-upon keys to beating Wilson were as follows: defense, hustle and teamwork. And if it all comes together for a 14-0 year, Geesaman said it will definitely be a reward his girls have earned.

“I just want them to get better in every practice and in games,” he said. “If they’re not here, they’re at the (Jay Community Center) playing. That’s just the way this group is.

“It’s been a good bunch. We play hard one through 14. That’s the key.”[[In-content Ad]]