OP defense
Chloe Wolfe-Pullen (left) and Kori Cole (right) introduce the Bruins' Trinity Galindo to one of the best defenses in the area. Cole also had 15 points.

6B Regional Quarterfinal: Osbourn Park girls are primed for a deep postseason run

On Monday night at Osbourn Park, the #5 Yellow Jackets opened their quest for a 6B Regional Title and a state tournament berth in impressive fashion, defeating Forest Park 60-40.

Osbourn Park never trailed in the quarterfinal matchup. The Jackets were impressive on defense, rotating tenacious defenders onto Forest Park star senior point guard Angel Jones and holding the Bruins scoreless for the majority of the first quarter. They were impressive on offense, both in the halfcourt and on the fast break. They were, in short, just really impressive.

“We just have to have trust in each other,” said Osbourn Park coach Chrissy Kelly when asked about what her team needs to do to have postseason success. “The girls have worked really hard and we played good defense tonight.”

Danielle Darfour's Dominating Defense: Angel Jones (right) still got hers, but Darfour (left) and OP made her work for everything.
Danielle Darfour’s Dominating Defense: Angel Jones (right) still got hers, but Darfour (left) and OP made her work for everything.

They did, especially on Jones. Jones still got her points (24) but she had to work hard for just about all of them. The Yellow Jackets didn’t resort to much gimmickry on defense, they just stuck to good man-to-man with help principles. As a result, the rest of the Bruins (12-11) didn’t exactly get great looks at the basket either–in fact until Bella Gomez drained a three-pointer midway through the second quarter no other Bruin had scored besides Jones.

“Jones is such an amazing player,” Kelly said. “I’ve seen and been lucky enough to coach and see some great ones…she is right up there with them.”

Alana Powell led Osbourn Park (22-1) with 16 points, displaying an impressive inside-outside game. Fellow junior Kori Cole was equally impressive, adding 15 points. The play of the night happened in the fourth quarter when Powell ripped down a defensive rebound and pushed the ball up the floor. She then found Cole for a running layup, and Cole was fouled, crashing to the floor. The crowd went wild, Cole converted the bonus free throw, and Osbourn Park had extended the lead to 49-33.

Alana Powell led the Osbourn Park offensive attack with 16 points.
Alana Powell led the Osbourn Park offensive attack with 16 points.

Cedar Run Player of the Year Hailey Kellogg added eight points and five assists, while tall freshman forward Alexandra Brown was tough inside, registering 13 points and seven rebounds. On Osbourn Park’s 20 total field goals we counted 17 assists, which gives you an idea of the Jackets’ ball movement on offense.

Now it’s a home game with district foe Freedom-South Riding on Wednesday for the Yellow Jackets. A win there would clinch a state tournament berth and a spot in the regional final.

“I’m very proud of these girls,” said Kelly, who lost most of her scoring from last year’s Class 6 state runner-up team. “They’ve had to deal with so much this year…including me, and they’ve never stopped fighting.”

Jones had seven rebounds and four assists to go along with her 24 points in her final game as a Bruin, while Gomez added eight points.

–Chris Jollay

all stats are unofficial

OSBOURN PARK FG FT TP REB AST
POWELL 6-11 2-2 16  5  5
KELLOGG 3-8 0-0  8  4  5
COLE 6-10 3-3 15  5  3
BROWN 3-6 7-10 13  7  1
DARFOUR 1-3 2-2  5  0  2
Yann 0-3 0-1  0  0  0
Kelly 0-2 0-2  0  4  1
Wolfe-Pullen 1-1 1-2  3  1  0
Matthews 0-0 0-0  0  1  0
TOTALS 20-44 15-22  60  27  17
Threes: Powell 2-3, Kellogg 2-6, Darfour 1-2, Yann 0-2, Cole 0-2
FOREST PARK FG FT TP REB AST
JONES 8-25 7-8  24   7   4
GALINDO 1-7 0-0   3   0   0
GOMEZ 3-6 0-0   8   4   0
SHELTON 1-1 1-2   3   1   0
YOUNG 1-3 0-0   2   3   0
Ancrum 0-0 0-0   0   2   0
Daguiso 0-0 0-0   0   0   0
Hollins 0-0 0-0   0   1   0
TOTALS 14-42 8-10  40  18   4
Threes: Gomez 2-4, Jones 1-5, Galindo 1-7, Young 0-1