Game 96: Annawan vs. Brimfield (Girl's Basketball)

Game 96
(2/15/10)
Annawan vs. Brimfield (Girl's Basketball)
Class 1A Abingdon Sectional

The next game began between the (#1) ranked Brimfield Lady Indians and the (#11) ranked Annawan Bravettes. Technically, the Associated Press ranks only a top ten, but Annawan was the first team in the others receiving votes category.

Brimfield jumped out to a 13-9 first quarter advantage, behind Paige Spietz's 7 points. Both teams had top players pick up two first quarter fouls. Brimfield All-Stater and Mizzou-bound senior Spietz had two along with (6'0") Annawan sophomore Jordan Jackson.

Spietz sat to begin the second quarter, and emerged from the bench with 4:58 to play in the half. Only two minutes on the floor, and Spietz would commit foul number three. With that happening, Annawan really took advantage, further giving Brimfield fits.

The Lady Indians really struggled against the Annawan press, something the Bravettes had not done too often during the season. Many turnovers were forced on Brimfield in-bounds plays, forcing traveling, double dribbles, errant passes, and even a couple ten-second calls.

It was a one-point game at halftime, as Annawan struggled to capitalize on the Brimfield mistakes. Playing in just two minutes of the second quarter, Spietz was held scoreless in the frame. Annawan received 8 points from All-Stater Kelly Buresh (committed to D-2 power Quincy University), and six points from Chloe VanOpdorp.

Annawan held Brimfield to just four points in the third quarter, and led 27-23 heading into the fourth quarter. Spietz picked up her fourth foul in the third quarter, again sitting a good amount of time on the bench.

The Bravettes scored three more points to start the fourth quarter, taking their biggest lead of the game (30-23) early in the fourth. Then came the run. The Lady Indians successfully pulled off a rally, sparking an 8-0 run to take a 31-30 lead midway through the final frame. The Lady Indians got a pair of baskets from Brycie Courter and Nicole Clevenger in the 4th during the run.

Spietz would pick up her final foul with 1:23 to play in the game, fouling out with just 9 points, only two of them coming since the first quarter. The game was tied at the end of regulation at 33-33. Brimfield held the ball the final 1:10 of the fourth quarter, and only attempted one shot, and one they didn't want. The shot that was attempted was an off-balanced top of the key three-pointer by Courter at the buzzer.

Brimfield turned the ball over several times in overtime, about five times to my count, including some unforced turnovers, in what appeared to be panic mode setting in. Annawan would hold on and prevail 38-36 in overtime, in a great...but sloppy game!

Buresh scored a game-high 17 points for Annawan, while Chloe VanOpdorp pitched in 11 points. Nicole Clevenger was the only Indian to score double-digits, finishing with 10. Brimfield finished the season, (28-4), capping off a fantastic four year run by the senior class.

During their four years at Brimfield, the Lady Indians went (119-14), winning four regional championships, two sectional titles, and a 4th place state finals finish. Hats off to the Brimfield Class of 2010 that consists of; Paige Spietz, Kelsey Herridge, Brycie Courter, Jacki McKown, Nicole Clevenger, and Jasmine Penick.

We had several listeners in the Network1Sports chat room, including Kelsey Herridge's grandmother in Iowa, Jordan Jackson's sister in New York, along with many fans from both Annawan and Brimfield tuned in. In total, we had 189 different listeners for the broadcast!

After the game, I ran into coach Jim Blane in the stairwell, very shaken and emotional following the loss. I tapped him on the shoulder and congratulated him on a great season. Coach Blane has been tremendous to work with over the past couple seasons, always open to interviews and sharing stats and milestones.

As I packed up my equipment and headed out the door, I ran into my friends from Annawan, the Jackson clan, Loren and Val with their daughter Jordan. Heading back to Abingdon for the sectional championship game depends on the finish for the Galesburg Silver Streaks girl's on Tuesday night in the Regional semifinals.

The Quest File Notes
Game 96
Date: 2/15/10
Result: Annawan tops Brimfield in a thrilling overtime upset, 38-36
Miles: 0