Fresh off their 44-37 win over Gainesville, the Osbourn Park girls looked to attain consecutive Cedar Run district championships against Patriot on Wednesday night at home. They would come away successful, beating the Pioneers 58-36 to go 21-1 on the season.
Patriot kicked the game off with a 4-0 start, but OP stormed back to take a 7-6 lead following a three-point play from junior Alana Powell and a three-pointer from senior Hailey Kellogg with 4:40 remaining in the quarter. The score remained low as the two teams jostled for momentum with OP leading 10-8 after one.
The Yellow Jackets would create separation immediately in the second quarter after a quick 5-0 run made the score 15-8 with just over six minutes to go in the half. Scoring came in bunches for the home team. Powell blew by the Pioneer defenders for a layup to put OP up 22-12, and a five-point surge via a jumper and three-pointer from Kellogg extended their lead to fifteen. The Osbourn Park ladies used a 19-4 second quarter to head into the half up 29-12.
OP would refuse to let up on the gas pedal in the third quarter, using their swarming defense and hot shooting to expand their lead. OP head coach Chrissy Kelly took a timeout with 4:46 left in the third to refocus her team despite a seventeen-point lead.
Immediately following the timeout, Hailey Kellogg hit another shot from deep. On their next two trips down the floor, she and Alana Powell traded assists and three pointers to open up the game to 42-16 with just over three minutes to go in the third quarter.
The two scoring dynamos combined for 33 points. Kellogg would finish 7-11 (5-8 from beyond the arc) for a game-high 19 points with 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals. Kellogg was also named Cedar Run District Player of the Year on Friday.
Powell would tally 14 points, going 5-11 (2-3 3P) from the field with 2 rebounds, a team-high 4 assists and 2 steals.
They'd head into the final period up 44-19. Patriot had their most competitive quarter in the fourth, outscoring OP 17-14. They were led by junior Addisyn Banks with 12 points. OP sophomore guard Angelina Yann would cap off the Yellow Jackets shooting from deep with a beautiful high-arcing three to put her team up 27.
Osbourn Park used their trademark defense to the tune of 16 steals, forcing 21 Patriot turnovers. They'd also finish the game going 8-13 (61%) from beyond the arc. Freshman center Alex Brown had a team-high 11 rebounds with 6 off the offensive glass.
I caught up with Chrissy Kelly after the game as she reflected on winning Osbourn Park's second straight district championship.
"This is a big one. This is a group that really had to make a decision after losing the amount of kids we did coming into the season. This group had zero experience in regards to being in this moment. For them to rise to the occasion, I'm just extremely proud. I love this group. They're just a really great group of kids."
On the horizon for Osbourn Park stands a first round regional playoff game against Forest Park on Monday night at 6:30 pm at home.
"One day at a time. We have to work on tomorrow. We have to get Alana's ankle healthy. We just have to keep working on the little things that keep you playing for a long period of time."
For more on the lady Yellow Jackets, follow them on Twitter @GirlsOPHS and Instagram @OPHSWBB.
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