Warriors battle, fall short

Six points. The margin of Garden County's 43-37 win over Leyton in Thursday night's sub-district title game represented a gap the Warriors could not span, no matter how much heart, grit and hustle they put into the task.

It was a margin the Eagles established in the first half, when they outscored the top seeded Warriors by 5 points in the opening quarter and one more in the second. Otherwise, the two sides matched up evenly, putting up identical numbers after the halftime break.

Leyton head coach Nick Newkirk had warned his team after Tuesday night's sloppy encounter with Banner County that they could not afford a slow start in the championship. But close to four minutes elapsed before Dani McKay put the Warriors on the board for the first time.

"Our shots just didn't fall and they were consistent," Kelsey Waite observed.

Waite drained a three from an inbound pass to even things briefly at 6-6. But Garden County countered with a 9-1 explosion, jumping out to a 15-7 advantage.

"They made adjustments since the last time we played," Katy Ernest pointed out. "They pressed down low."

Leyton drubbed the Eagles 55-35 on Feb. 13. But Garden County senior Ashlyn Jenkins saw limited action in that contest and veteran Courtney Stegman was unavailable. Instead, the Eagles had relied on a trio of younger players.

This time around, Garden County had a different look.

"They were attacking and got rewarded for it," Newkirk said. "It was their night."

It was their quarter, at least. A late three by Natalie Cruise ended the first period on a more respectable note for the Warriors, 15-10.

From that point on, it was a constant battle to narrow the gap.

Leyton went into the break down 26-20. But Kaitlyn Berner opened the third by powering inside and hitting a short jumper. The Eagles responded with a three by Alicia Erhlich, but Ernest worked her way into the paint and grabbed 2 points back for the Warriors.

Throughout a fast and furious third, Leyton found ways to break up Garden County's attack. Berner chased down a guard to force a jump ball. A minute later the hard charging junior picked up a steal then forced the Eagles' Kendra Johnson into a traveling violation.

"My shots weren't falling, so I had to do anything I could," Berner explained. "I had to hustle, and I put everything into it."

Berner forced 9 turnovers on the night, including four by jump ball calls.

Yet ground proved impossible to make up. When Kelsey Waite popped in a three to end the third quarter, the deficit still held firm, 37-31.

The final period was just as frantic. Waite was credited with back to back steals. Taylor Berner--into the game as Newkirk shifted to a platoon system, with quick players in on defense--picked Ehrlich's pocket. Ernest forced a jump ball, Diedra Waite picked up a steal and yet with just 1:44 remaining, that 6-point gap remained, 41-35.

Leyton was handed more than a glimmer of hope when Diedra Waite banged a jumper off the glass and in with 1:29 remaining.

Down by just 4 points, the Warriors pressed hard, winning turnovers but not points. Berner tipped an inbound pass away from its intended target. It fell into the hands of Jessica Houk.

"I saw it go behind me and I saw a white jersey," Berner said of the moment. The Warriors could not convert, however.

Moments later, Houk intercepted a long inbounds and raced back up court to set the offense. Three quick shoots sailed off target.

Garden County restored the 6-point lead just before the buzzer when Jenkins hit two from the line.

"You can't get your head down," Newkirk said of the loss. "It's fun to win, but it's life."

For Leyton seniors Kelsey Waite, Carly Rushman, Katy Ernest and Emily Gill, it was their last appearance on the court in Warriors' colors. In their final season, they went 11-10, won the MAC tournament and earned a trip to the sub-district finals.

"We accomplished things we hadn't in awhile," Waite said. "But there are good young players. Next year they will probably go to state."

Newkirk observed that the team is losing some solid leadership.

"I'll miss those girls," he said.

Girls Sub-Districts

Garden Co. 43

Leyton 37

Leyton Linescore

Garden Co. 15 11 11 6 - 43

Leyton 10 10 11 6 - 37

Warriors Scoring

Kelsey Waite 15

Dani McKay 5

Katy Ernest 4

Natalie Cruise 4

Diedra Waite 4

Kaitlyn Berner 3

Emily Gill 2