Bluejackets snap losing streak with 35-22 win over Eastern Greene

By Noah Dalton

BLOOMFIELD — Mitchell High School picked up a win on the road Thursday night, beating Eastern Greene, 35-22.

The victory snapped a three-game losing streak, marking the Bluejackets fourth win for the season thus far.

Against the Thunderbirds, Mitchell led the entire game, thanks in large part to their defense. They held Eastern Greene to just two field goals in the first quarter, while forcing eight turnovers.

That start allowed the Bluejackets to take an early 12-5 lead by the end of the period, with the majority of their offense coming from senior Anna Sowders, who scored seven, including knocking down each of her five attempts from the free throw line. Paisley Modglin added the other five points, netting an early three and later finding a layup after a steal.

Anna Sowders shoots over two Eastern Greene defenders

Eastern Greene threatened to comeback at different points throughout the night, but each time Mitchell closed the door on them.

The Thunderbirds scored six unanswered points to cut the Bluejackets’ lead down to two points early in the third quarter. Once again, it was Mitchell’s defense that came through, not allowing Eastern Greene to score for the remainder of the period to stop their run.

The Bluejackets outscored the Thunderbirds 13-6 in the fourth to close out the win, with Sowders’ free-throw shooting once again playing a key role, as she went 6-6 from the stripe in the quarter. They also added another free throw from Raylee Thompson, a timely basket from Abigail Fountain and a three from Gwen Eastridge.

In total, Mitchell’s defense gave up just seven field goals in the entire game, while also forcing 21 turnovers.

“Holding anybody to 22 points is a great thing. We played on Tuesday, and I thought our defense was not good and the girls heard about it. They came out and responded and if we can keep playing defensively that way, and play our style of defense, we’re gonna get better, and we’re gonna get better in a hurry,” said Bluejackets head coach Dakota Brasher. “It just seemed like everything kind of clicked tonight.”

Paisley Modglin looks to an open teammate against Eastern Greene

Sowders was the top scorer on the night with 15 points, including a perfect 13-13 from the free-throw line. Also scoring for Mitchell were Modglin, nine points; Eastridge, three points; Fountain, four points; and Thompson, four points.

“We still didn’t hit a ton of shots, we only had three threes, but 13 for 13 from the line from your senior goes a long way, that’s for sure,” Brasher said.

Kaelyn Thompson was the top scorer for the Thunderbirds, with seven points. Right behind her was Shelby Ferkingstad, who added six points.

Abilgail Fountain is contested near the basket by Eastern Greene’s Breanna Hash

This win was the fourth of the year for Mitchell, a considerable step up from the previous season, where they won just one game.

With three games left before the postseason, there is still time for them to add to the total, though those additional wins and games like the one on Thursday have gone along way towards the team’s goal of getting better, according to Brasher.

“It’s easy for girls to buy in when you’re winning, and when things are going well. It’s a lot harder when you’re losing games, and things aren’t going your way. It’s easy for them to get lost, and to get outside of what we’re trying to do, but a game like this really locks us in right before what we’re trying to do, and that’s going to sectionals, and taking it a game at a time when we get there,” he said.