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Kauffman threes spark Bulldogs over Shikellamy

JERSEY SHORE — Hannah Kauffman isn’t the type of player opposing defenses want with an open look, especially not with the chance to swing the momentum and take the lead.

No matter how well Shikellamy seemed to guard Kauffman, at the start of the fourth quarter she twice hit daggers.

From outside the arc, Kauffman let go a great 3-pointer to give the Bulldogs a one-point lead. Forty seconds later, from about the same spot, she let go another and drained it.

All of a sudden, Shikellamy went from leading by two to trailing by four. It wasn’t insurmountable, but it was a 6-point spurt by Jersey Shore that shifted the momentum for good.

The Braves called two quick timeouts after both 3-pointers by Kauffman, but never rebounded from them.

The Bulldogs never trailed again and Jersey Shore held off Shikellamy to sweep the Braves this season, 39-33 on Friday night.

“I just got done telling them they need to find a way and we found Hannah twice wide open,” Jersey Shore coach Darrin Bischof said. “I thought she played a fantastic fourth quarter and we all did. I think defensively, we dug in and did what we had to. Just outmanned them under the basket.”

Kauffman was a force in the second half, and was single-handedly responsible for the Bulldogs claiming a lead three times in the third quarter as the two teams exchanged seven lead changes including in the fourth quarter.

Kauffman ended with 25 points, and scored 17 consecutive points between the third and fourth quarters. In addition, Kauffman led the Bull­dogs with a team-high seven rebounds.

Averie Hess was key for the Bulldogs in the first half, as she scored on a layup right before the buzzer to help cut the deficit to just two points after they trailed by as many as six with 1:43 to play. She ended with eight points for Jersey Shore.

“Averie kind of took control (before half) and just kind of relaxed us a little bit. Got a bucket there at end of half on a drive. We haven’t done that all season, so for her to get us within two and then keep Hannah involved in the game in the fourth quarter, it’s just a big boost for our team and I thought everybody stepped up and did what they had to do.”

The last lead Shikellamy held was with 33 seconds to play in the third quarter when Riley Barrett hit a 3-pointer to give the Braves a 25-23 lead.

Defensively, Jersey Shore helped limit Shikellamy’s offense, including holding the Braves to just eight points in the fourth quarter when Shikellamy was attempting to rally and only one point in the first quarter as the Braves were 0 for 12 shooting in the first eight minutes.

“Sadie Griswold, her and Aubrey (Stetts) and Janelle (Eck) and Krista (Eck), they’re not big, but they position themselves well. Hannah did a great job of rebounding tonight. She pulled down a couple big boards and led us on the break,” Bischof said. “Just proud that we got through a sweep of Shikellamy, a team that was picked second in the league before the season. Just kind of helping us along the way as we won seven of eight and get ourselves ready for a playoff run.”

The Bulldogs grabbed 25 defensive rebounds and limited the Braves’ second chance opportunities. Tralyn Hummel led Shikellamy with a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double performance and had two steals while Barrett had nine points.

Shikellamy (33)

Abigail Walter 1 2-4 5; Riley Barrett 3 2-5 9; Tori Smith 1 0-1 2; Rebekah Amerman 2 0-0 5; Tralyn Hummel 1 10-12 12; Macy Carper 0 0-0 0. Totals 8 14-22 33.

Jersey Shore (39)

Krista Eck 0 0-0 0; Averie Hess 4 0-0 8; Baleigh Lorson 0 0-0 0; Janelle Eck 0 0-0 0; Hannah Kauffman 9 5-5 25; Aubrey Stetts 1 0-2 2; Sadie Griswold 1 1-2 3; Brielle Hess 0 1-2 1; Reba Lorson 0 0-0 0; Maddie Herman 0 0-0 0; Brianna Herman 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 7-11 39.

Shikellamy 1 12 12 8 — 33

Jersey Shore 5 6 12 16 — 39

3-point goals: Shikellamy 3 (Walter 1, Barrett 1, Amerman 1), Jersey Shore 2 (Kauffman 2).

JV score: Jersey Shore, 35-34.

Records: Shikellamy (8-9), Jersey Shore (13-5).

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