SAC: Archers on the mark as free throw shooting, forced turnovers key to FW South's title game victory over defending champion FW Luers

By Colin Altevogt

Girls Basketball Coordinator

FORT WAYNE â�?��?? Fort Wayne South employed quick defensive pressure and made the most of unmatchable early energy in beating Fort Wayne Luers for the Summit Athletic Conference tournament championship, 77-61.

â�?��?The first time we played them, they handled (the press) well,â�?� South assistant coach David Goodwell said. â�?��?We made little adjustments and rushed the ball once they got it in. We pressured the ball and I think that shook them up a little bit.â�?�

South got a lot of help from guard Shaâ�?��?�la Jackson. The Southern Illinois-bound senior scored 33 points, the most ever in a championship game and fourth-highest single-game total in tournament history.

â�?��?Shaâ�?��?�la creates mismatches,â�?� Goodwell said. â�?��?She shoots a true jump shot, which is very difficult to defend.â�?�

Luers certainly found Jackson difficult to contain all night. Every time the Knights pulled within striking distance, Jackson seemed to respond with points on the other end either from the free throw line, where she shot 10-of-11, or from the floor.

Between the full-court press and the offensive dominance of Jackson, Luers found itself in a hole early. The Archers benefited from seven early Luersâ�?��?� turnovers and shot to a 13-4 advantage with 3:37 left in the first quarter. By the end of the period, the Knights were facing a 19-6 deficit.

â�?��?I told them that the shots werenâ�?��?�t falling early on, but they will,â�?� Luers coach Teri Rosinski said. â�?��?We have to be able to play defense and make some stops.â�?�

â�?��?To South Sideâ�?��?�s credit, they took it right at us and we had a difficult time slowing them down.â�?�

South stretched the lead to as many as 16 in the second period. Luersâ�?��?� MarKee Martin scored on a lay-in and three-pointer to cut the lead to 11 with a minute left in the half. The Knights looked poised to slice the deficit to single digits before intermission, but Jackson knocked down a pair from the line and South led 33-20 after two.

â�?��?Every time we tried to make a little dent in that deficit, they hit their free throws,â�?� Rosinski said.

They did indeed. The Archers connected on 26-of-30 from the line, including a 12-of-12 performance from senior Marceya Mingo.

With 30 seconds to go in the quarter, Martin missed a three that would have cut the gap to eight. Jackson nailed another pair from the stripe, however, and South led 51-38 heading into the final quarter.

The Archers were never able to pull away until the final minute, however. Down 13 with two minutes to go, Martin hit back-to-back shots behind the arc-two of the Knights 10 three-pointers in the contest-in a span of 15 seconds. The seven point deficit was the closest the Knights had been since the 5:20 mark of the first quarter.

On the other end, however, Southâ�?��?�s Jarvisha Jackson scored on the and-one play. Luers would not score the rest of the game.

Southâ�?��?�s victory revenged a 41-39 loss to Luers in an SAC regular season match-up Dec. 8. South wins its first conference tournament title, ending the Knights three-year reign as champions.

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