Sterling Jet Holiday Tournament
December 29 & 30, 2009

Sterling Holiday Tournament

Tuesday, Dec 29th

In the first round of Sterling’s Holiday Tournament, the home town Lady Jets would draw Omaha St. Peter Claver.  St. Peter Claver is a class C-2 school with it first full year of varsity sports.  Sterling used its speed and tenacity to win 65-20.  The story was all about the first half.  Sterling forced 12 turnovers in the first quarter and then forced another 14 turnovers in the second quarter while jumping out to a 48-5 halftime lead.  Coach Cockerill said, “ I asked the girls to find some energy on their own.  We were playing an afternoon game just back from the moratorium and needed to come out fast and furious.  The girls did just that, our feet were fast and we were in the passing lanes.  Then it allowed us to play some younger and less experienced girls the second half.”  Sterling was led in the first half by junior Courtney VanGroningen and her 22 points.  She also added 8 steals, 5 assists and 7 rebounds during the half.  Senior Willow Hunt also had a good half with 4 steals and 3 assists.  Freshman Jenna Nieveen ended that game with 12 points, 6 steals, 5 assists and 6 rebounds.  The Lady Jets will take on Lincoln Parkview Christian in tomorrows Championship game.

Sterling High School      20 28  7  10  65
Omaha St. Peter Claver 4   1  6   9   20

Sterling High School:
VanGroningen 22, Nieveen 12, Wenzl 5, Porter 9, Hunt 3, Daehling 2,
Magill 2, Murphy 4, Hestermann 6

Omaha St. Peter Claver:
Saavedra 32, Baeza 2, Jackson 15

Sterling Holiday Tournament

Wednesday, Dec 30th

In the championship game of the Sterling Holiday Tournament, the Lady Jets took on the Parkview Christian Patriots.  Sterling jump on the Patriots early in the game with full court pressure to force turnovers that led to easy transition baskets.  By the end of the first quarter it was 13-5.  Coach Cockerill stated, “ I was please how we came out with some defensive intensity the first quarter.  We forced them to play fast and then in turn were rewarded with some easy baskets.  After the first quarter it was a dog fight.  Parkview girls played with good physicality and forced us into some situations we did not like.  Which made us shoot a poor shooting percentage and we started to hang our heads on each miss.  I still have to credit Parkview for our poor shooting.”  The second quarter went back and forth with both teams scoring in double digits.  The fouls were starting to pile up for each side and both teams spent a lot of time and the charity stripe.  By halftime the Lady Jets were in control 31-20.  The second half was a struggle offensively for both teams.  You could see the tired legs from back to back games and the moratorium layoff.  The Lady Jets pulled away in the second half and won 48-32.
Sterling was led by junior Courtney VanGroningen and her 21 points followed by fellow junior Reba Hestermann and her 9 points.  Parkview was paced by Sarah Mertens’ 11 points.  Sterling improves to 6-3 and will play next Tuesday at Johnson-Brock.

Sterling High School  13 18  8  9  48
Parkview Christian      4 16  4  8  32

Sterling High School:
VanGroningen 21, Nieveen 7, Wenzl 1, Puls 1, Hunt 4, Heusman 2,
Magill 3, Hestermann 9

Parkview Christian:
Polivka 1, Elwood 9, Mertens 11, Fuchser 6, Aden 5