Jamison reaches 2,000 points, Storm to play for another Vermilion County title

DANVILLE It was a play shed made all season.

Her whole career, really.

A simple steal followed by a transition layup, and Alexa Jamison scored the 2,000th point of her Salt Fork career.

Its really crazy.

I cant really comprehend it, Jamison said.

I kind of knew it was coming up, but I was trying really hard to keep it out of my mind.

I couldnt have done it without my coaches, teammates, family and everyone along the way.

Its just awesome.

Reaching 1,000 career points is viewed as quite the achievement, so the number Jamison has put up more than anyone in Salt Fork girls basketball history is pretty special.

Its a huge accomplishment, Storm coach Brian Russell said.

There arent a lot of people who get to do that in their high school career.

Its her hard work, her team-first attitude and her teammates helping her out.

Its a reward for her for all the hard work shes put in.

Jamison went on to score a game-high 21 points to lead Salt Fork to a 45-12 win over Georgetown-Ridge Farm on Wednesday night, the final night of girls Vermilion County Tournament pool-play games at Danville Area Community Colleges Mary Miller Gym.

The win clinched a spot in Fridays championship, giving the Storm an opportunity to win its fourth consecutive title.

Its going to be a quality opponent, and we have to make sure we have a good practice (Thursday) and come here Friday, play within ourselves and do what we do best, Russell said.

If not, theyll have an opportunity to beat us.

You cant overlook anybody, so we just need to do what we need to do to win the game.

On Wednesday night, what the Storm (20-2) needed was a fast start and a solid defensive showing, and it got both.

Jamison scored 14 of her 21 points in the first quarter, and Salt Fork held a 21-4 lead after the opening period.

Especially after playing the Buffaloes (9-9) a lot closer just two weeks prior, winning 55-40, this was a good sign.

Anytime you can do something like that, it just sets the tone for you, Russell said.

We talk about setting the tone and dictating it, and we did a really good job of that.

The Storms defense then held G-RF scoreless for the next 12 minutes of game time, lasting all the way to the midpoint of the third quarter.

The Buffaloes next bucket didnt do much to change the outcome, which was all but decided at that point, but they continued to fight until the final buzzer.

Theyre relentless, G-RF coach Brad Russell said of the Storm.

Defensively, theyre very sound.

Its hard not to play their style when theyre that intense and in your grill all game long.

When they dictate the pace, it just makes them that much better.

They came out intense on the defensive end, and its tough.

In the fourth quarter, Brad Russell mentioned to his assistant coaches on the sideline that they needed to find a way to get their players some confidence.

A game as lopsided as that one, in which nobody scored more than four points, can take a toll on the mental side of the game, but the Buffaloes made sure to look at the bigger picture afterwards.

Weve got to find the enjoyment in playing the game of basketball, Russell said.

Theyre in high school one time and get to play high school basketball one time.

Youve got to play and have fun.

Salt Fork did an excellent job of contesting every shot we took, and we had some good looks.

Again, their style kind of rushed us into shooting.

Its about getting that confidence built back up after a game like that.

Everyone else in the gym held their breath as Westvilles Gwen Bennett threw up a halfcourt heave at the buzzer.

Meanwhile, Armstrong-Potomac coach Mike Chandler had been doing that all game.

It was a close battle from start to finish, and as Bennetts final shot fell just short of the rim, the Trojans eked out a 46-43 win.

In a close game like that, you just kind of hold your breath until the end, Chandler said.

Salt Fork is the defending champion and should be the No.

1 seed without a doubt.

The rest, anybody can beat anybody on any given night.

Not that Salt Fork cant be beat, but the county is fairly evenly matched this year from top to bottom.

Neither team was able to build any momentum early, as the games margin stayed within a single basket for the majority of the first three quarters.

It was tied at 30 heading into the fourth, but a pair of three-pointers from Chesney Franzen and Ashlyn Ackerman in the opening minute suddenly gave the Trojans (7-14) a six-point lead.

Another three a couple minutes later by Isabel Bullington made it an eight-point advantage.

The Tigers (6-18) mounted a spirited comeback effort in the final minute, but they ultimately ran out of time.

Elle Jameson led A-P with 13 points, with Ackermans 12 and Franzens nine not too far behind.

Bennett and Lani Gondzur did all they could to will Westville over the top, scoring 19 and 17 points, respectively.

They were big shots that got us a little bit of a cushion, Chandler said of those fourth-quarter threes.

I think it deflated them just a little bit.

I give coach (Dustin) Simpson and those Westville girls some props.

Regardless of the score, they just play hard.

Playing hard makes up for a lot of mistakes.

Thats why they almost beat Hoopeston, why they were in the game with Bismarck and why it went down to the wire with us.

Hoopeston Area bested Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin 34-30 in the final pool-play game of the girls Vermilion County Tournament.

While it wasnt the most high-scoring game in the world, the Corjerkers now have the opportunity to play for a championship against Salt Fork on Friday.

Definitely wasnt the prettiest, but playing for a County title, it doesnt matter how you get it done as long as you get it done, Hoopeston Area coach Aaron Fell said.

It came down to the final moments, as Claire Dixon hit a pair of clutch free throws with just 12 seconds left on the clock to put Hoopeston Area (13-7) over the top.

Dixon led the Cornjerkers with 18 points, and Maddie Barnes added 10.

Draycee Nelson paced the BHRA (13-9) with 11 points, and Gentry Elson had seven.

I just told my team, We git past that game.

Now, we play the juggernaut, Fell said.

Salt Fork has won three in a row, and theyre playing really well right now.

Weve got to handle their defensive pressure and do a little more on offense..

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