Lynn Burke
02-26-2008, 10:29 PM
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Fans celebrate with Page Turner after Poquoson's victory. Photo by Diane Cebula/Daily Press
Turner keys Poquoson's victory
By Marty O'Brien | mobrien@dailypress.com (mobrien@dailypress.com)
POQUOSON — During the mid-court celebration following Poquoson High’s thrilling 36-35 win over Courtland in the Region I girls basketball tournament quarterfinals on Tuesday, a fan lifted Islanders’ guard Page Turner triumphantly into the air. Turner deserved the ride after carrying the Islanders on her shoulders in the final minutes of an improbable come-from-behind victory.
The Islanders (21-6) trailed by 10 points with a little more than three minutes to play in the game, when Turner ignited the comeback. She completed the rally by sinking two free throws with 42.2 seconds left, giving her a game-high 15 points and sending the Islanders into a semifinal meeting on Thursday at Greensville County.
“This is an amazing feeling,” said Turner, a 5-foot-5 junior. “We rebounded, made foul shots and pulled together as a team.
“We knew it had to be all or nothing.”
The Cougars (18-7) helped the Islanders by missing six of seven free throws in final 3:17. Following the first of those misses, Turner dished to center Amy Brogden for a basket to cut the deficit to 32-24.
When Courtland missed their next 1-and-1 free throw attempt, Turner assisted Coryn Wilson’s basket. Then Turner deflected the Cougars’ inbound pass to teammate Robyn Brown, who passed to Turner for a layup to make it 32-28 with 2:32 to go.
Courtland missed a third consecutive free throw, but center Karina Monroe scored on the rebound to make it 34-28. Turner struck again, passing to Brogden for a basket. The Cougars finally hit a free throw, but missed the second and Turner retaliated with a pull-up jumper to cut the deficit to 35-32 with 1:11 to play.
When the Cougars missed two more free throws on their next offensive trip, the Islanders showed them how it’s done at the line and won the game as a result. Brown rebounded a Poquoson miss, was fouled and hit two free throws to close the gap to 35-34.
Kara Blosser broke open on a runout for the Cougars but missed the layup, before teammate Kendra Jackson missed the followup. Turner hustled down court, rebounded the second miss and was fouled.
“I just blocked out the crowd, focused like I do in practice and made ’em,” Turner said of her game-winning free throws. “Then Coryn (Wilson) got a big rebound.”
Wilson rebounded Jackson’s miss from eight feet with 10 seconds to go. The Islanders cinched the victory by maintaining possession before getting fouled with less than a second to play.
“That’s the best second half I’ve ever seen Page play, and this is the greatest feeling we’ve ever had after comeback,” Poquoson coach Jeff Gross said. “Our shift (from zone) to man-to-man defense was key.”
But the Cougars’ missed free throws were a bigger key. Courtland led 20-10 at intermission and maintained the margin until the final 3:17 with solid man defense of their own.
Blosser frustrated Kelly Halverson much of the night, holding the Islanders’ junior to 10 points – more than seven below her average. But Turner picked up the slack, so the Islanders’ next game will be for a Group AA state tournament berth.
“It’s huge to get this far,” Turner said. “Last year we made it to the (regional semifinals) and lost.
“Kelly and I have a goal to go a little farther into the tournament each year.”
POQUOSON 36, COURTLAND 35
COURTLAND (18-7): Schnake 3, Armstrong 2, K. Jackson 4, S. Jackson 4, Bowser 9, Blosser 7, Monroe 6. Totals 15 2-12 35.
POQUOSON (21-6): Brogden 6, Turner 15, Brown 2, Halverson 10, Wilson 3. Totals 13 9-14 36.
Courtland 71387 – 35
Poquoson 551214 — 36
3-point goals — Courtland 3 (Schnake, Bowser, Blosser), Poquoson 1 (Halverson). Total fouls — Courtland 16, Poquoson 15. Fouled out — Monroe.
Fans celebrate with Page Turner after Poquoson's victory. Photo by Diane Cebula/Daily Press
Turner keys Poquoson's victory
By Marty O'Brien | mobrien@dailypress.com (mobrien@dailypress.com)
POQUOSON — During the mid-court celebration following Poquoson High’s thrilling 36-35 win over Courtland in the Region I girls basketball tournament quarterfinals on Tuesday, a fan lifted Islanders’ guard Page Turner triumphantly into the air. Turner deserved the ride after carrying the Islanders on her shoulders in the final minutes of an improbable come-from-behind victory.
The Islanders (21-6) trailed by 10 points with a little more than three minutes to play in the game, when Turner ignited the comeback. She completed the rally by sinking two free throws with 42.2 seconds left, giving her a game-high 15 points and sending the Islanders into a semifinal meeting on Thursday at Greensville County.
“This is an amazing feeling,” said Turner, a 5-foot-5 junior. “We rebounded, made foul shots and pulled together as a team.
“We knew it had to be all or nothing.”
The Cougars (18-7) helped the Islanders by missing six of seven free throws in final 3:17. Following the first of those misses, Turner dished to center Amy Brogden for a basket to cut the deficit to 32-24.
When Courtland missed their next 1-and-1 free throw attempt, Turner assisted Coryn Wilson’s basket. Then Turner deflected the Cougars’ inbound pass to teammate Robyn Brown, who passed to Turner for a layup to make it 32-28 with 2:32 to go.
Courtland missed a third consecutive free throw, but center Karina Monroe scored on the rebound to make it 34-28. Turner struck again, passing to Brogden for a basket. The Cougars finally hit a free throw, but missed the second and Turner retaliated with a pull-up jumper to cut the deficit to 35-32 with 1:11 to play.
When the Cougars missed two more free throws on their next offensive trip, the Islanders showed them how it’s done at the line and won the game as a result. Brown rebounded a Poquoson miss, was fouled and hit two free throws to close the gap to 35-34.
Kara Blosser broke open on a runout for the Cougars but missed the layup, before teammate Kendra Jackson missed the followup. Turner hustled down court, rebounded the second miss and was fouled.
“I just blocked out the crowd, focused like I do in practice and made ’em,” Turner said of her game-winning free throws. “Then Coryn (Wilson) got a big rebound.”
Wilson rebounded Jackson’s miss from eight feet with 10 seconds to go. The Islanders cinched the victory by maintaining possession before getting fouled with less than a second to play.
“That’s the best second half I’ve ever seen Page play, and this is the greatest feeling we’ve ever had after comeback,” Poquoson coach Jeff Gross said. “Our shift (from zone) to man-to-man defense was key.”
But the Cougars’ missed free throws were a bigger key. Courtland led 20-10 at intermission and maintained the margin until the final 3:17 with solid man defense of their own.
Blosser frustrated Kelly Halverson much of the night, holding the Islanders’ junior to 10 points – more than seven below her average. But Turner picked up the slack, so the Islanders’ next game will be for a Group AA state tournament berth.
“It’s huge to get this far,” Turner said. “Last year we made it to the (regional semifinals) and lost.
“Kelly and I have a goal to go a little farther into the tournament each year.”
POQUOSON 36, COURTLAND 35
COURTLAND (18-7): Schnake 3, Armstrong 2, K. Jackson 4, S. Jackson 4, Bowser 9, Blosser 7, Monroe 6. Totals 15 2-12 35.
POQUOSON (21-6): Brogden 6, Turner 15, Brown 2, Halverson 10, Wilson 3. Totals 13 9-14 36.
Courtland 71387 – 35
Poquoson 551214 — 36
3-point goals — Courtland 3 (Schnake, Bowser, Blosser), Poquoson 1 (Halverson). Total fouls — Courtland 16, Poquoson 15. Fouled out — Monroe.