Sabetha Channel Broadcast – Sabetha at Jeff West (12-19-17) – click here to listen.

After a back-and-forth first quarter, the Jeff West girls’ basketball team found its stride in the second quarter and moved into a tie for third place in the Big 7 League with a 57-36 win over Sabetha Tuesday night in Meriden.

The two teams traded baskets to open up the game as Jeff West led 13-10 after the first quarter, but the Lady Tigers defense took over in the second forcing four turnovers and holding Sabetha to just six points to push their lead to 10 at halftime, 26-16.

The Lady Tiger defense was stifling the entirety of the first half, led by 6’3” senior Mariah Murdie who recorded six blocks in the first half and altered many more shots.

While Murdie’s defense was the story in the first half it was her offense that got Jeff West going in the third quarter, as she tallied seven of her game-high 15 points in the quarter to help the Lady Tigers push their lead to 43-26 heading into the fourth quarter.

Lady Tiger sophomore Heather Kahler finished off the Jeff West win with a big fourth quarter, scoring eight of her 13 points in the fourth while the Lady Jays were held to just 20 total second half points.

Both teams now get set for the holiday break, as Jeff West (4-2, 3-2 Big 7) will next be in action Jan. 2 at Nemaha Central while Sabetha (3-3, 3-2) travels to Hiawatha Jan. 5.

Jeff West: Mariah Murdie – 15, Heather Kahler – 13, Aaliyah Negonsott – 13, Jordon Negonsott – 6, Zoe Holthaus – 5, Gabby Overstreet – 4, Cheyanne Starr – 1.

Sabetha: Morgan Schuette – 12, Maggi Hughes – 7, Skylar McAfee – 6, Kinley Schuette – 5, Jessica Payne – 4, Hillary Krebs – 2.

BOYS

Despite trailing after the first quarter, the Sabetha boys basketball team used a turnover free fourth quarter to take down Jeff West Tuesday night 47-42 in Meriden.

Things started well for the Bluejay boys as they jumped out a 5-0 lead to begin the game, but Jeff West responded with an 8-0 run to end the quarter to take an 8-5 lead after the first.

Sabetha was able to bounce back offensively in the second quarter, as juniors Joe Gruber and Jesse Burger combined to score 11 points in the frame to give the Bluejays a 20-18 lead at halftime after Gruber drilled a 3-pointer at the first half buzzer.

The two teams traded blows in the third quarter with the Bluejays pushing their lead to three heading into fourth quarter, and Sabetha used a turnover free final frame to move back into a tie for third with Jeff West in the Big 7.

Both teams now head into the holiday break as Sabetha (3-3, 3-2 Big 7) will next be in action Jan. 5 at Hiawatha, while Jeff West (3-3, 3-2) will head to Nemaha Central Jan. 2.

Sabetha: Jesse Burger – 13, Joe Gruber – 12, David Dyke – 9, Brett Stallbaumer – 8, Kyle Grimm – 3, Ryan Stapleton – 2.

Jeff West: Quinn Nuenswander – 10, Grant Thompson – 10, Josh Broxterman – 9, Zeth Unruh – 8, Colin Ellis – 3, Colton Ketron – 2.