Panthers fall in IESA State Quarterfinals
By Fred Kroner
The St. Joseph eighth-grade girls’ basketball team fell one victory short of earning a state trophy.
In the IESA state quarterfinals on Saturday (Dec. 11) at Germantown Hills, the Panthers dropped a 43-5 decision to unbeaten Pleasant Plains, which went on to post a 20-point semifinal win to advance into the state championship game.
St. Joseph was limited to one second-half point, a free throw by Katie Ericksen. Ericksen scored three points. Kayla Osterbur added the other two points.
Osterbur scored 12 points on Wednesday (Dec. 8) as the Panthers qualified for state with a 31-27 conquest over Pontiac in a Class 3A IESA sectional championship game at Tuscola.
The Panthers led 12-1 after the first quarter and permitted just two first-half field goals in building a 20-8 lead at the break.
Addie Brooks and Ericksen each scored six points. Tamara Blackburn-Kelley tallied five points and Kenzie Atwood finished with two points.
St. Joseph finishes the season with a 19-3 final record.
Six squad members led or shared the team-lead in scoring. Blackburn-Kelley led in nine games, followed by Ericksen (seven), Brooks (five) and Osterbur (three)
Blackburn-Kelley had the team’s highest point total (18) and Brooks led in three-pointers made with 21. Ericksen was most adept at getting to the free throw line, attempting 44 for the season.
Besides Atwood, Blackburn-Kelley, Brooks, Ericksen and Osterbur, others on the state roster were Sophia Kasper, Lexi Lackey, Hayden Dahl, Ashlyn Miller, Kaitlyn Beyers, Abigail Crider and Adeline Stevens.
