JWCC women struggle offensively in final three quarters, lose third consecutive game

QUINCY – It was one of those games when it seemed like a lid was on the basket.

The John Wood Community College women’s basketball team went more than nine minutes overlapping the second and third quarters without a field goal and managed just seven points in the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon to drop a 61-45 decision to Danville Area Community College in the Student Activity Center.

The Trail Blazers missed 38 of 49 field goal tries over the final three quarters and shot just 25.4 percent overall in losing their third consecutive game to fall to 9-10. They were particularly woeful from beyond the 3-point stripe, making just 5 of 34 attempts against the Jaguars’ 2-3 zone.

“We just couldn’t get the ball in the net,” JWCC coach Lauren Bogle said. “I take full responsibility. I felt like maybe I didn’t have them prepared for the zone. But we had a ton of open looks. The ball just wouldn’t go in.”

Neither team played particularly well in a ragged first half when they combined for 41 missed shots, 24 turnovers and 18 fouls. Still, JWCC was in front 25-21 with 6:12 left in the second quarter after a 3-pointer from the left wing by freshman guard Katey Flynn.

That’s when the Trail Blazers went cold. They were unable to navigate around the Jaguars’ size and length inside and managed just a lone free throw the rest of the period. They didn’t score again from the field until Flynn sank a jumper from the left baseline with 7:01 remaining in the third quarter.

JWCC trailed 35-30 at that point and pulled within three on a steal and layup by Alexis Pohlman 33 seconds later. The hosts were down just four when guard Jayla Greer buried a 3-pointer from the right wing to close out the quarter and give Danville a 45-38 lead.

Flynn’s layup off a turnover with 5:57 to go pulled the Trail Blazers to within 50-45, but they never scored again. They converted on just 3 of 17 shots in the period to allow the Jaguars to steadily pull away.

“This is the first game where we have really, really struggled offensively,” said Bogle, whose team came in averaging 68.4 points per game and been held below 60 only three times.

Flynn finished with a game-high 21 points for JWCC, but she went just 3 for 11 from 3-point range and 9 for 22 overall. Pohlman also reached double figures with 13 points.

Greer paced Danville (13-7 overall, 2-3 in Region 24) with 19 points. Keiara Gregory added 15 points and Jillisa Briggs 10. The Jaguars struggled themselves from the field, shooting just 34.5 percent overall, but they finished with a 48-35 rebounding edge.

Both teams turned the ball over 19 times and combined to go just 20 of 38 from the free throw line.

JWCC, which falls to 2-3 in Region 24 play, has lost six of nine home games this season. The Trail Blazers travel to Lewis & Clark Community College Wednesday and to Illinois Central College next Saturday.

“Danville is a scrappy team that went to the nationals last year,” Bogle said. “We will learn from this.”