Morristown strung together at 12-0 run early in the first quarter Wednesday and never looked back in defeating Edinburgh, 53-17 in the final quarterfinal game of Class A, Sectional 60.
At Southwestern High School, Raegan Kleine scored a game-high 19 points and had 12 rebounds to lead the Yellow Jackets (13-10) to their seventh-straight win.
Danika Rutledge finished with 16 points, five rebounds and four assists and Maggie Lutes had six points and 10 rebounds.
Morristown will face South Decatur, a 56-49 winner Wednesday over Oldenburg Academy, in the second semifinal game Friday.
In the semifinal opener at 6 p.m., Southwestern (6-16) will take on Jac-Cen-Del (13-11).
The championship game is at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Morristown lost at South Decatur on Nov. 10, 65-46. It was the fifth of six straight losses to start the Yellow Jackets’ season. Now, with its lineup intact, Morristown gets a rematch after dismantling the Lancers (6-18) Wednesday.
Edinburgh scored first before Morristown ran off 12 consecutive points and outscored the Lancers 17-3 in the first quarter. The lead extended to 31-5 by halftime in a sloppily-played first half that saw the Yellow Jackets commit nine turnovers and shoot just 34% from the field.
“We knew the nerves would be there,” said Morristown head coach Rachel Kleine. “They were so ready to go and fired up. We knew the first couple of minutes would be helter skelter until we got settled in.”
A cleaner third quarter made sure Morristown was ready for the semifinal round.
The Yellow Jackets shot 41% from the field in the third quarter as the lead opened to 47-15. The fourth quarter was played with a running clock and the Morristown reserves on the floor.
“South Decatur will be a completely different opponent just in their style of defense and being tight with the basketball,” said Kleine. “We have to be smart and stronger with the ball. I was pleased with the way we responded tonight. I think we had (Edinburgh) thinking, trying to throw some new things at them and I think they were thinking and trying to execute at the same time. We just need to continue to get sharper.”
Edinburgh dressed just eight players after starting the season with seven. Seniors Gracie Crawhorn and Cloee Britton took the floor for a final time and played well.
Crawhorn finished with eight points, three rebounds and four blocked shots. Britton had two points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
Edinburgh did not have a junior varsity team this season and ended the season with 10 consecutive losses.
Morristown also did not field a junior varsity squad but has a much-more experienced varsity squad. Eight of the nine Yellow Jackets that took the floor Wednesday scored.
Now, the Yellow Jackets are one win away from playing for a sectional championship.
Morristown 53, Edinburgh 17
ED – G. Crawhorn 3-11 0-0 8, Turner 0-7 0-0 0, Streeval 3-13 1-3 7, Goff 0-5 0-2 0, Britton 1-4 0-1 2, Gobel 0-1 0-0 0, Sanders 0-1 0-0 0, A. Crawhorn 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 7-43 1-6 17.
MT – Rogers 1-5 0-0 3, Kleine 8-14 2-2 19, Rude 1-4 0-2 3, Rutledge 6-15 3-5 16, Lutes 2-7 2-3 6, Cox 1-6 0-0 2, Essex 1-4 0-0 2, Theobald 1-3 0-0 2, Smith 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 21-59 7-12 53.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
ED (6-18) 3 2 10 2 -- 17
MT (13-10) 17 14 16 6 -- 53
Three-point field goals: ED 2-14 (G. Crawhorn 2-8, Turner 0-4, Streeval 0-1, Goff 0-1), MT 4-12 (Rogers 1-4, Kleine 1-2, Rude 1-2, Rutledge 1-2, Theobald 0-1, Smith 0-1). Rebounds: ED 23 (G. Crawhorn 3, Turner 2, Streeval 4, Goff 2, Britton 7, Gobel 3, A. Crawhorn 2), MT 42 (Rogers 3, Kleine 12, Rude 6, Rutledge 5, Lutes 10, Cox 5, Essex 1). Assists: ED 2 (G. Crawhorn 1, Britton 1), MT 14 (Rogers 1, Kleine 3, Rude 4, Rutledge 4, Essex 2). Steals: ED 2 (G. Crawhorn 1, Streeval 1), MT 7 (Rogers 1, Rude 2, Rutledge 3, Cox 1). Blocks: ED 7 (G. Crawhorn 4, Goff 1, Britton 2), MT 3 (Rude 1, Rutledge 1, Lutes 1). Total fouls: ED 9, MT 8. Turnovers: ED 19, MT 15.
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