Sabetha Channel Broadcast – Jeff West at Sabetha (2-13-18) – click here to listen.

This past week, Jeff West senior Mariah Murdie was named the athlete of the week at mscsports.net after a pair of double-digit scoring outings in wins over ACCHS and Holton.

Tuesday night Murdie showed exactly why she is capable of playing at the NCAA Division I level next season, as she came off the bench and poured in 23 points, added 11 rebounds and five blocks in the Lady Tigers 49-37 win over Sabetha.

Neither team was able to find much of an offensive rhythm in the first half as the two teams combined for just 7 points total in the second quarter, but Murdie tallied 8 points in the first half to give Jeff West a 19-10 lead at halftime.

The Lady Tigers were able to extend their lead to as many as 12 points early in the third quarter, but Sabetha junior Jessica Payne notched 7 straight points while fellow junior Hillary Krebs hit a huge 3-pointer to pull the Lady Jays within one midway through the third.

Murdie closed the quarter with 6 points of her own, as the Lady Tigers finished the third quarter with an 8 point lead, 33-25.

Murdie put the game on ice in the fourth quarter going 5 of 6 from the free throw line and notching 9 more points, as the Lady Tigers defense finished the game forcing 15 Sabetha turnovers.

Jeff West (15-2, 11-2 Big 7) now gets set for a tough test Friday hosting Royal Valley, while Sabetha (9-8, 7-6) hosts Hiawatha.

Jeff West: Mariah Murdie – 23, Aaliyah Negonsott – 10, Jordon Negonsott – 7, Zoe Holthaus – 5, Heather Kahler – 2, Neva Roenne – 2.

Sabetha: Hillary Krebs – 11, Jessica Payne – 7, Hannah Wertenberger – 6, Morgan Schuette – 5, Skylar McAfee – 4, Kinley Schuette – 3, Payton Michael – 1.

BOYS

For two quarters Tuesday, the Sabetha and Jeff West boys’ basketball teams were locked in tightly contested defensive struggle which you would expect from two of the top teams in the Big 7 League.

But in the third quarter the Blue Jays offense took over the game and never looked back, as Sabetha moved into a tie with the Tigers for third place in the Big 7 with an impressive 48-41 win at home.

Neither team was able to get anything going offensively early, as both teams turned the basketball over six teams through the opening two quarters.

The Bluejays capitalized on 4 of 6 shooting from the free throw line in the first half to take a 17-16 lead into intermission.

The Sabetha offense took control in the third quarter, as the Bluejays outscored Jeff West 20-7 in the quarter behind five bench points from junior Braeden Cox to take a 36-24 lead into the fourth.

Sabetha senior Brett Stallbaumer closed the door on any type of Jeff West comeback with a strong fourth quarter, notching six points in the final frame to finish off the seven-point Bluejays’ victory.

The Bluejays (11-6, 9-4 Big 7) now get set to host Hiawatha Friday, while Jeff West (9-7, 9-4) hosts Royal Valley.

Sabetha: Brett Stallbaumer – 13, Jesse Burger – 10, Ryan Stapelton – 7, Braeden Cox – 7, Gabe Garber – 7, Joe Gruber – 4.

Jeff West: Grant Thompson – 18, Quinn Nuenswander – 7, Brayden Cruz – 7, Zeth Unruh – 7, Josh Broxterman – 2.