Madison’s title game win ‘bittersweet’

Mohawks improve to 10-0, but lose senior Jerger to knee injury.

Madison's Kaylee Bush takes the shot against the Fenwick defense Friday during the final of the Miami University Middletown Holiday Tournament. Contributed photo by Martin Wheeler

Martin Wheeler Madison's Kaylee Bush takes the shot against the Fenwick defense Friday during the final of the Miami University Middletown Holiday Tournament. Contributed photo by Martin Wheeler

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By John Boyle, Staff Writer 1:21 AM Saturday, December 31, 2011

MIDDLETOWN — The Madison High School girls basketball team capped the first half of its season with mixed emotions Friday night.

The Mohawks routed Fenwick 67-33 to win the Big School Division championship game of the 33rd annual Miami University Middletown Holiday Tournament and improve to 10-0.

But the good feelings were tinged with some tears when Madison lost starting point guard Abby Jerger to a knee injury with 5:17 left in the game. Jerger, a 5-foot-8 senior, was carried off the court by a pair of teammates.

“It’s bittersweet,” Madison coach John Rossi said of the win and Jerger’s injury. “Abby is our leader. She’s the hardest-working kid we have in the program. I just feel so bad for her. Right now I don’t know what the prognosis is going to be. But my anticipation is that it’s not going to be good. She said she heard something snap. I just feel horrible.”

Jerger was injured near midcourt when she came down awkwardly receiving an inbounds pass. She returned to the Madison bench with her knee wrapped in ice after the game when the Mohawks were receiving their individual awards and team trophy.

“Abby is a big part of our teams and it’s definitely going to affect us,” sophomore Olivia Philpot said. “We just have to keep our heads up and hope for the best.”

Philpot scored 13 of her game-high 16 points in the first half to lead the Mohawks. Brittany Shields added 11 and Josey Harding and Kaylee Bush added nine apiece. Harding also had six rebounds.

Balance is nothing new for the Mohawks, who entered the MUM tourney with four players scoring in double figures.

“We can have a different leading scorer every day,” Philpot said. “You never know who is going to come out and have a big game. That’s what’s good about our team. We’re all strong.”

Jenni Rossi scored 12 points and Maggie Pearce added 11 for Fenwick (3-6). The Falcons were overwhelmed in the first half — Madison led 40-12 — but played well in the second half. They outscored the Mohawks 11-8 in the third quarter.

“I was very pleased with the second half,” Fenwick coach Donn Burrows said. “A lot of teams would have dissipated and checked out for the holiday.”

• Valley View defeated Miami Valley 38-32 to win the small school championship.

Marissa Herlinger scored nine points and Alexis Stidham had eight to lead the Spartans (8-2).

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2506 or jboyle@coxohio.com.

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