Morristown takes down top-10 team in sectional opener

Nevaeh Sanders and Emma Nelson combined for 42 points to help Class A, No. 14 Morristown avenge a 35-point early-season loss to Class A, No. 10 Tri Tuesday and bounce the Titans out of the Southwestern Sectional.

The Yellow Jackets scored the final seven points of the second quarterfinal game of Sectional 59 to defeat Tri, 57-53.

Sanders did what she did much of the game — drive hard through the lane and convert. She cut the lead to 53-52 with 40 seconds to go.

Morristown’s next possession ended with Nelson burying her fifth three-pointer of the game that created a 55-53 advantage.

Danika Rutledge sealed the win by converting two free throws with 7.8 seconds on the clock to set off a wild celebration when the game ended.

”They found a way to win,” said Morristown head coach Rachel Kleine. “That is a very good Tri team and I was a little nervous when they came back and finally took the lead. I didn’t know how we would respond there.”

Statistically speaking, it seems impossible that a team reversed a 35-point loss to a top-10 ranked team while committing a staggering 31 turnovers. Morristown made it work with consistent offensive production, big moment 3s by Nelson, and a stingy defense that limited the Titans to 29% shooting.

”I think that shows you how potent our offense is if we can turn it over 30 times and still have enough possessions to score the ball,” said Kleine.

Nelson, a Marian Ancilla recruit, missed Saturday’s sectional practice at Southwestern due to illness. That left Kleine concerned for her team’s top sharpshooter.

The senior alleviated that thought by taking nine 3s and making five — three coming in a quarter’s final 30 seconds. The first came at the end of the opening quarter and extended her team’s lead to 14-4. The second came with one minute left in the second quarter and gave Morristown a 27-15 lead just ahead of Tri’s 7-0 run to close out the half.

Nelson’s third long-range bomb closed out the third quarter to get the Yellow Jackets the lead again after surrendering it for the first time.

The fourth 3 broke a 44-all tie early in the fourth and the fifth was the game winner off a cross-court pass she had to gather in before firing.

”They know where to find her. They know when to find her,” said Kleine. “She just stays ready. I’m so happy for her.”

Nelson finished with 15 points, four rebounds and three blocks.

Sanders scored a game-high 27 points on 9-of-17 shooting, pulled down a game-high eight rebounds and collected three steals.

Nevaeh Cox scored nine points — seven straight in the second quarter when the Yellow Jackets (15-7) built their biggest lead to 21-6.

In Tri’s 71-36 win over Morristown on Nov. 12, the Titans sank 12 3s and outscored the Yellow Jackets 28-5 in the second quarter. On Tuesday, Tri was just 1-of-11 from beyond the 3-point line in the first half but stayed within striking distance thanks to freshman Lia Bohn scoring 10 points in the second quarter.

Four straight points scored by Sanders pushed Morristown’s lead to 33-24 early in the third quarter but Tri was forcing turnovers in bunches — Morristown had 21 in the middle two quarters — and finding some offensive rhythm.

A 10-2 run got the Titans within one at 35-34. Another 8-0 run that included a 3 by Kenley Cornelius produced a 42-38 lead late in the quarter.

Morristown, who starts five seniors, did not panic despite its high turnover volume. Rutledge scored her only field goal of the game followed by Nelson’s 3 that made it 43-42 going to the fourth quarter.

Tri (16-8) led by three on three separate occasions in the game’s final five minutes but Sanders kept attacking, scoring five straight points for her team before Nelson sank the biggest shot of the game.

Jillian Chew, who hit five 3s in her team’s first win over Morristown, was 1-for-6 from beyond the arc Tuesday but still finished with a team-high 20 points. She also had four rebounds and four steals.

In the sectional opener at Southwestern, North Decatur cruised to a 49-21 win over Edinburgh. The Chargers (15-7) will look to avenge a 46-41 loss to Morristown on Jan. 14 in Friday’s semifinal opener.

In Wednesday’s quarterfinal games at Sectional 59, Knightstown (11-10) takes on South Decatur (12-11) followed by Waldron (7-15) facing Southwestern (3-20) for the third time this season.