Girls D-II: Young Bulldogs Knock Off FAC Champs 52-43

Article presented by Rathkamp Financial …

***Freshman Ella Chapman claims a keepsake from the Athens victory over Jackson in the D-II Sectional Final at Jackson High School. Chapman scored 9 points in the win. Dan Ramey/Litter Media***

11th seeded Athens defeated Jackson on its home floor, 52-43 Thursday to advance to the District Semi-Finals at Piketon High School this Monday. The 15-8 Bulldogs will face Sheridan who took Logan Elm 50-32 in its Sectional Final.

Athens had a 12-point lead on the 2023 Frontier Athletic Conference champion with 2:54 left in the third quarter. But in the post season, no lead is safe when one team is facing elimination.

The 6th seeded Ironladies rallied to within 39-37 with 3:01 remaining in an attempt to keep their season alive.

The Bulldogs held a two point edge at the end of the first period, 11-9 and were ahead of Jackson 20-17 at halftime.

“We had two weeks to prepare for this game” Bulldogs Head Coach Phil Koska told Litter Media, “and we focused solely on defense, where we could keep them (Athens) engaged.” The Bulldogs starting five consist of three freshmen, a sophomore and a senior.

Following what seemed to be a disappearance of the Jackson five, who fans had witnessed all season, began to show up in the fourth quarter. The Ironladies rallied to cut the margin to two points. Their opportunity to tie the game at 39 fell by the wayside when Matti Wilburn’s runner missed the basket. Athens got the rebound and stopped the threat.

With Jackson having to foul to keep pace, the Bulldogs’ sank eight straight free throws in the final period to solidify their first Sectional Championship since 2015. The final, 52-43.

Athens was led by Quinn Banks with 14 points, while Ella Chapman and Emily Zuber had 9 points apiece, followed by Olivia Smart with 8 and Fern Sigman and Asa Halcombe 6 each.

The Jackson (15-8), TJ Carpenter tallied 14 points, with Mattie Wilburn adding 12, Kenzie Davis 11, Sydney Hughes 4 and Jalynn Montgomery 2.

The Athens-Sheridan game will be the second of the D-II District semi-final at Piketon High School on Monday. #2 seeded Unioto will face New Lexington in the tip off at 6:15pm. The Shermans cruised to an 87-20 win over Vinton County while New Lexington advanced with a 52-31 victory over Miami Trace. The District Final for Monday’s winners will be Friday February 24th at Southeastern High School.