Zumwalt West comes up short vs. Rock Bridge

Paul Kopsky/STLhighschoolSPORTS.com | Fort Zumwalt West's Jasmine Swopshire (center) and Rock Bridge's Lindsey Cunningham (left) and Carmen Boessen dive on the floor for a loose ball during the third quarter Friday at Webster Groves.

 Webster Tournament • Jaguars are shut down inside in third quarter after big first half.

WEBSTER GROVES — The third quarter changed everything Friday.

Fort Zumwalt West couldn’t run its offense, it stopped rebounding and the Jaguars could not slow the Rock Bridge offense. The Bruins did everything they didn’t do in the first half, starting with a stifling defense, that ultimately led to a 47-32 girls basketball victory in the Webster Groves Winter Challenge semifinals.

The Jaguars (17-3) dominated the backboards in the first half, and their 10-rebound edge helped generate extra possessions and a 23-21 halftime lead. Zumwalt West had used its post play to generate nearly all of its offense and multiple second- and third-chance baskets.

Rock Bridge (19-2) made all that go away with an increase in defensive pressure on the ball and a renewed emphasis on limiting the Jaguars’ second-chance points.

“It was the box-outs,” said Rock Bridge guard Amaya Williams, who had a game-high 17 points. “We were playing pretty good initial defense all game, but they were getting second, third, fourth and fifth opportunities at the basket. You’re going to make it if you get all those looks, so we just really focused on pushing them out and getting the rebound.”

Rock Bridge used the emotional lift from its defensive effort to string together a nine-point run and take a 30-23 lead on two free throws from Hannah Dressler. All the while, the Bruins’ defense kept denying Zumwalt West any open looks in the paint, and the Jaguars scored just two free throws in the third quarter to trail 32-25 at the start of the fourth.

Zumwalt West’s Jasmine Swopshire finally broke the field-goal drought with a basket off an inbounds play with 6:04 left in the fourth quarter. The Jaguars would score just two more baskets the rest of the game and finished the second half 3-of-25 from the field.

The Jaguars owned the glass in the first half and had 21 rebounds. And the post play led to an 8-0 run that gave West a 21-16 lead and the momentum.

“We pounded it inside, we played good defense and felt good about our first half,” Zumwalt West coach Monica Tritz said. “Then we stopped forcing it inside, we stopped attacking the gaps and were so complacent. You can’t do that playing a team like Rock Bridge.”