Villisca girls extend winning streak to three at Essex

ESSEX—The Villisca Blue Jays girls’ basketball team won their third straight game Saturday night when they defeated Essex on the road, 44-17.
Villisca put up double-digit points in three of four quarters, but their defense was able to hold Essex at bay.  The Blue Jays grabbed 22 defensive rebounds off the glass, blocked nine shots and also stole the ball from Essex 15 times.
Three Blue Jays were in double-figures Saturday night, with Morganne Haer leading the way with 14 points. Haer’s nine rebounds led the team in that category.
Amanda Focht finished the game with 12 points, eight rebounds and six steals.
Courtney Auxier finished with 10 points and five steals.
The Blue Jays defeated South Page Friday night in College Springs, 65-23.
Villisca scored 20-plus points in the first and fourth quarters against South Page.
Focht finished the game leading Vilisca in scoring with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Jill Vanderhoof finished the game with a double-double, scoring 16 and rebounding 15 (nine offensively).
The Blue Jays blew out Clarinda Academy Tuesday night at home, 78-29. Villisca scored at least 20 points in three of four quarters played against the Eagles.
Three Blue Jays finished the night with double-figure scoring and one even had a double-double. Amanda Focht came away with the double-double, scoring 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Courtney Auxier led the Blue Jays in scoring with 19 points on 9-of-16 shooting and seven rebounds (five offensive).
Jill Vanderhoof was the third Blue Jay with double-figure scoring, as she finished the night with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Villisca secured 46 rebounds in the win over the Eagles, with 22 of them coming on the offensive end.
The Blue Jays lost their first game of the season last Monday when they fell to Bedford on the road, 56-25. Bedford kept Villisca’s offense from scoring much of the game, forcing the Blue Jays to score single-digit points in the first, second and fourth quarter.
Morganne Haer led Villisca in scoring with eight points. Focht finished with six points for the Blue Jays.