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Jeffers wins thriller over Baraga, 49-46

Daily Mining Gazette/Bryce Derouin Jeffers’ Julia Nordstrom shoots as Baraga’s Kerstyn Clisch defends Friday in Baraga.

BARAGA — As time expired and Baraga’s potential game-tying 3 sailed wide of the hoop, ensuring a 49-46 Jeffers Jets victory, Jeffers head coach Joe Romano raised his hands into the air and joyously screamed in the direction of his bench as his players and coaches leapt up and down.

That’s what ending a three-game losing streak looks like, and that’s the scene of a team earning a tie for the conference lead Friday in Baraga.

Jeffers’ (6-4, 4-1) dramatic win makes it a three-way tie in the loss column atop the Copper Mountain Conference with the Baraga Vikings (8-2, 6-1) and Chassell Panthers (7-2, 6-1).

“We finally played like a team,” Romano said. “I’m proud of every kid on that squad. We did well.”

Senior Julia Nordstrom led the Jets with 26 points, including 19 in the first half. But her most important basket was the second free throw she made after missing the first with 11 seconds left, giving her team a 49-46 lead, forcing Baraga to take a desperation 3 on the game’s final possession.

“I was like, ‘I can do this,'” said Nordstrom about what she was thinking after she missed the first of two free throws. “Last year, I was always in that situation when I had to make free throws because they always fouled me.”

Jeffers utilized a box-and-1 defense on Baraga senior Carsyn Osterman — who finished with 10 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds — and the Jets’ in-your-face pressure on the final possession didn’t allow any Viking to get a clear look at the basket with the clock winding down. The final shot was an airball.

“I have to take the blame,” Baraga head coach Keith Willis said. “I had the wrong people in at the end of the game. We didn’t play well. They played as well as they could, and we played really bad.

“There’s not an awful lot to say. Got outcoached, got outplayed.”

With Nordstrom shadowing Osterman in the box-and-1, Baraga looked out of synch, offensively, to start the game. On Baraga’s first eight possessions, they had three missed shots, four turnovers and missed a pair of free throws as Nordstrom scored all 10 of Jeffers’ points for a 10-0 advantage.

“What threw our offense out of synch was not making shots under the basket,” Willis said. “And I don’t think I’ve had a team play that bad of defense.”

Nordstrom took advantage of Baraga’s defense to find a rhythm. Early in the first quarter, she knocked down a pair of 22-foot 3s from the right wing. At that point, it was apparent to everyone in the gym that she was feeling it.

“Once I hit those shots, I feel like today’s my night,” Nordstrom said.

After Baraga shot just 2 of 8 and scored five points in the opening quarter, the Vikings offense suddenly could not miss. Baraga put together a near-perfect second quarter, shooting 8 of 8 from 3-point range and scoring 28 points on 9 of 12 shooting.

Baraga junior Chelsey Pittsley came off the bench to spark the offense, converting on all three of her 3-point attempts as the home crowd went wild while watching Baraga’s shooting frenzy.

Senior Justice Kinnunen and Osterman also hit two 3s each in the second, while sophomore Martina Jahfetson had the other.

The Vikings took a 33-30 lead into halftime.

“We were setting good screens, popping people open and taking the time on our shots,” Willis said. “In the second half, we didn’t set on our 3s and were just throwing them at the basket.

“Days like today are just not fun coaching.”

Baraga’s offensive explosion was also assisted by Jeffers’ lack of communication on defense, allowing Baraga to get wide open looks at the basket during the second quarter.

The Jets did a better job of rushing Baraga’s offense in the second half, where the Vikings cooled off and were just 4 of 25 overall and 3 of 18 from 3. For the game, the Vikings shot 15 of 45 (33 percent) and 12 of 28 from 3.

After the teams took turns showcasing their offensive talents in the first half, the game slowed down and took on the look and feel of a heavyweight fight. Jeffers junior Ivy Klemett delivered the game-changing moment when she converted a runner off the glass to give the Jets a 46-44 lead with 1:31 remaining in the fourth quarter. Klemett would also make two free throws to make it a 48-44 game with 25 seconds left.

“Ivy Klemett is really coming along. I’m on her hard, but I still think she’s one of the best point guards in our conference,” Romano said. “She’s a great kid and plays hard at practices.”

Jeffers finished 17 of 46 from the field (37 percent) and held a 32-29 rebounding advantage. Senior Alexa Clouthier led Jeffers with 13 rebounds.

Each team committed 13 turnovers.

Next, Jeffers hosts Lake Linden-Hubbell on Monday; Baraga goes to Dollar Bay on the same day.

Jeffers 16 14 10  9    — 49

Baraga 5 28  6    7    — 46

Jeffers — Klemett 8, Lehto 5, Stevens 3, Nordstrom 26, Clouthier 5, Pennala 2. Fouled out: None; Free throws: 10-15; 3-point field goals: Nordstrom 2, Stevens, Lehto, Clouthier.

Baraga — Jahfetson 6, Kinnunen 14, Mleko 2, Osterman 10, Clisch 2, Pittsley 12. Fouled out: None; Free throws: 4-6; 3-point field goals: Kinnunen 4, Pittsley 4, Jahfetson 2,Osterman 2.

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