The Jefferson County North Girls Basketball Team’s hopes of a state title were snatched away Friday afternoon.

The JCN girls lost a heart-breaking 42-41 semi-final game to Marion.

JCN held onto a 29-27 lead after three quarters and led by five with less than four minutes to play in the fourth, according to the Hutchinson County Community College Athletics re-cap of the game.

Marion pulled within one point with 2:20 to go in the game. Another bucket after a defensive stop put Marion on top 41-40.

JCN senior Mallory GrandPre hit one of two free-throws on the other end to tie the game with 35 seconds left.

On Marion’s next possession senior Lindsay Hett got her own rebound and was fouled and hit her second free-throw to put Marion back up by one point.

JCN sophomore Jordan Kramer had an open look at the basket but misfired. Marion senior Kristen Steinborn corralled the rebound to preserve the win.

Marion turned the ball over 18 times but out rebounded JCN 45-34. The Lady Chargers turned the ball over 15 times. Kramer had 24 points in the game and led all scorers for the tournament with 52 points.

JCN started the tournament on Thursday with a commanding 57-39 win over Frontenac.

JCN held a three-point half time lead but came out in the third quarter and put the defensive clamps down on the Lady Raiders. JCN held Frontenac without a field goal in the quarter and out scored the Lady Raiders 14-2. Kramer led the Lady Chargers with 20 points.

JCN had a chance to redeem themselves on Saturday in the tournaments third place game. However JCN came out flat in the first quarter and was never able to pull it together throughout the game.

JCN took a quick 2 point lead on an easy lay up by Kramer. However, Garden Plain would take a 4-3 lead and never look back.

JCN had a hard time finding any rhythm on offense. Many times the Lady Chargers settled for the first shot and had trouble getting the ball inside. JCN found themselves down by seven points after the first quarter.

Garden Plain would go on a 15-3 run before head coach Steve Noll called a time out half way through the second quarter. Garden Plain on the offensive end moved the ball well, often finding an easy lay-up under the basket. GP senior Samantha Ledy did the most damage scoring a game high 21 points on 7 of 8 shooting from the field. Ledy also knocked down 7 of 9 free throws.

After the time out JCN got a two-point bucket from Katie Noll but Garden Plain answered on the other end with a three-point basket to extend the lead to 13 and the Lady Chargers would fall behind by 14 at the half.

JCN hit two quick shots to start the third quarter to pull within 10 points.

After trading baskets Kate Brickell got the roll on a three-point basket to pull JCN within eight points with three minutes left in the third quarter. It was the first time JCN had cut the lead to single digits since early in the second quarter.

However, Garden Plain would get two quick buckets to extend the lead to 12 points. JCN would again find themselves down by 14 points at the end of the third quarter.

Garden Plain would extend the lead by as much as 15 points.

JCN tried to make one final comeback getting the lead cut to nine points with just under three minutes left in the game but the lead would go back to double digits just seconds later on two Garden Plain free throws.

JCN tried putting pressure on Garden Plain with a full court press but the Lady Raiders passed around JCN’s traps.

JCN had four players ranked in the top eight in scoring. Followed by Kramer’s tournament high of 52 points, Kate Brickell and Katie Noll were sixth and seventh on the list with 25 and 24 point totals. GrandPre tied for eighth with 22 points.

JCN players were also atop the rebounding stats. GrandPre had the most offensive rebounds with 10 followed by teammate Anna Kern with eight. Noll tied for third with 7.

Sara Navinskey tied for the most defensive rebounds with 15. GrandPre had the second most with 12 rebounds and the second most total rebounds with 22.

Brickell and Navinskey were also first and second in steals with nine and eight apiece.