The photograph despatched JJ Quinerly had 24 play factors in WVU victory over Kansas, on Friday afternoon, in giant actions of 12 quarters.
Morgantown-deprived of an avalanche of Kansas State Baskets, quantity 16, the Western Virginia Basketball workforce in Western Virginia, dug out of a 12-point gap and rallied behind Jordan Harrison and JJ Quinerly to get a victory one who stopped 73-69 The semifinals of the good 12 Match in Kansas State.
Wildcats marked 33 factors within the first quarter to match the file for the factors in 1 / 4, whereas hitting 13 out of 15 strokes, a ridiculous 86.7%, however might solely deal with 36 factors within the subsequent three quarters of the strain of the climbers.
“I believe I believed it could be a struggle,” Stated the coach WVU, Mark Kellogg. “I wanted this. We wish to proceed to be examined in battle. When issues didn’t go on the best way, I used to be essentially the most proud that I resisted the storm. And I talked about it as a result of it was a storm they went out with and we could not gradual the sport. “
Quinerly saved WVU within the recreation by a primary half the place she scored 15 out of 24 play factors after which turned the manufacturing to her underdimensioned teammate, Harrison.
At solely 5 meters, four inches, Harrison entered the primary half with solely two factors and three private faults, however got here to life within the second half to attain 17 factors to complete with 19 for the sport.
“I’ve been brief all my life, so I solely do what I really feel comfy and that is simply within the gap, doing Three and doing what I am comfy.” “ Harrison mentioned. “I did not need them to get me out of my recreation, particularly with three faults.”
She didn’t commit a fourth fault within the recreation, whereas she continued to play a heavy protection.
“Truthfully, I used to be simply pondering of my workforce, as in the event that they want me. My workforce is at all times there for me, so I knew I needed to stand up then ”,” Harrison mentioned.
The 2 stars of Mountainer obtained a help from Sydney Shaw, who completed with 13 factors, together with two free throws, which made a recreation with two possessions within the final 11 seconds, and from the start of Jordan Thomas, which was a power inside and out of doors the planks, with 11 factors and 6 restoration.
“After the primary quarter after I gave up 33 factors, I believe they scored solely 36 from that second. And we let our protection cross, which we did all yr “,” Stated coach Mark Kellogg.
“And within the credit score of the kids, JJ has decided us to go offensive, because it has been in that little space right here recently, and Jordan needed to struggle the fallacious issues, however actually happy with it. Shaw made just a few massive free throws. Jordan Thomas is a bud that continues to enhance. “
Kennedy Taylor was the one Wildcat that Wvu couldn’t cease after the primary quarter, whereas completed with 21 factors whereas strolling 9-for-9 completely from the ground.
“We’re an athletic, silly stupidity and we have now simply tried to make use of this to our benefit. I knew that our protection could be necessary on this recreation, so we closed and did what we needed to do within the second half “,” Harrison mentioned.
The protection was so robust that, after scoring 13 gaps of the primary quarter, Kansas State had solely 14 within the final three quarters, whereas the mountaineers moved away from management.
Lastly, they entered the brow at 54-53 for the primary time within the recreation, as a result of it was 5-Three when Harrison scored on a primary motion and constructed the result in 66-60 with four:13 left earlier than Wildcats scratched again and regained the result in 69-67 on a Taylor basket.
However WVU would tie the sport to 69-69, when Thomas took over the ultimate offensive recoil and put it once more with 1:18 to play.
No matter occurs from this second would determine who would advance and be Quinerly, the defensive participant of the Large 12 yr for the second consecutive season, entered and stole the doorway step, then scored on a float on the band to make 71-69.
“I believe my protection is lots of realizing the place the balls go, possibly they provide individuals to do issues they might not wish to do. My teammates assist me lots with this, I believe we have now a superb defensive workforce, so when everybody clicks on it, it makes it a lot simpler for me ”,” Stated Quinerly.
With 26 seconds left, the climbers had what might have been a deadly defensive breakdown, as a result of Temira Pondexter, who already hit three Three within the recreation, was left open for a Three-pointer to play.
If he had entered, he would have put Kansas State in entrance, however he threw it off the iron and Wvu got here with him, Shaw being hit and put the sport with just a few clutch, pitching with out strain.
“All of us stayed collectively. I believe it is lots of us. We’ll keep collectively it doesn’t matter what and we have now someway come out with that victory “,” Stated Quinerly.