GIRLS’ HOOPS: Red Devils earn share of HHC title with 68-48 victory over Bulldogs

By KEVIN HARRIS

kevinharris1972@gmail.com

NEW ALBANY – Class 4A No. 9 Jeffersonville clinched at least a share of the Hoosier Hills Conference championship for the second consecutive season last Thursday at The Doghouse, defeating rival New Albany 68-48.

The Red Devils (15-4, 6-1 HHC) can clinch the conference title outright for the second year in a row if Bedford North Lawrence (5-1 HHC) and the Bulldogs (11-9, 4-1) each lose another HHC contest. The Stars will host Floyd Central in their conference finale Wednesday. New Albany has two more HHC games, which are at Columbus East on Monday and home to Seymour this coming Thursday. The Bulldogs must win both of those contests to earn a piece of the conference crown.

Sophomore Nan Garcia led Jeff with a game-high 21 points and eight rebounds. Teammate Tori Handley poured in 15 points as she shot 4-of-7 from 3-point range. Three of Handley’s four 3’s came in the first quarter to help the Red Devils pull out to a 17-6 lead.

Senior Britney Epperson was the third Jeff player to score in double figures with 10 points. Red Devil guard Kelsie James registered a solid floor game with seven rebounds, five steals, four points, four assists and one turnover.

Senior forward Kelsy Taylor had a double-double for New Albany with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Bulldog senior guard Julyen Condra wound up with 13 points.

SOIN PREPS STAR: Nan Garcia, Jeffersonville – Garcia produced another solid performance in the 2017-18 season in helping the Red Devils clinch a piece of the Hoosier Hills Conference crown. The sophomore scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

JEFFERSONVILLE 68, NEW ALBANY 48

Jeff                        17  18  13  20-68

New Albany           6  15  12  15-48

Jeff (15-4, 6-1 HHC): Nan Garcia 21, Tori Handley 15, Britney Epperson 10, Jaylynn Brown 6, Jacinta Gibson 4, Kelsie James 4, Chelsea Gibson 3, Jasmine Lilly 3, Kiersten Poor 2.

New Albany (11-9, 4-1): Kelsy Taylor 16, Julyen Condra 13, Ally Willis 8, Alayasia Douglas 7, Savanna Pinkston 4.

3-point field goals: Jeff 5 (Handley 4, Garcia 1); New Albany 0.