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Wehrle’s late play helps Rocks win

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By Christopher Maloney | Saturday, January 05, 2008 |

Rock Island junior Jaclyn Wehrle did everything the Rocks needed to win against Bettendorf.

Her steal and lay-up gave the Rocks the lead with 46 seconds left and her two free throws iced a 43-41 win Saturday in the Bi-State Shootout at Blacki Hawk College.

Rock Island coach Rod Leatherman acknowledged the Rocks (8-9) got some lucky bounces in defeating the Bulldogs, but “you get lucky bounces when you play hard like we have been doing.

“The kids toughed it out and didn’t give up, all the way to the end,” he said. “As the girls reminded me after the game, we are now 2-0 in 2008.”

With the Bulldogs up 39-38 with 46 seconds left, Wehrle intercepted an inbound pass and scored on a lay-up to put the Rocks up 40-39.

The Bulldogs (2-9) were unable to take the lead back on their next possession so Wehrle proceeded to hit two free-throws with 6.8 seconds remaining to put her team up by four.

A last-second basket by Bulldog junior Chrissie McGaffigan created the final margin.

Wehrle finished the game with 13, while Rocks junior Shatoya Burnett led all scorers with her 16.

“We fought hard,” Bettendorf coach Jayme Olson said. “There were times when the girls could have given up but they hung in there. Rock Island did a better job of boxing out, though, and they got more second-chance baskets because of it. Non-conference games like this are a learning experience. I have a lot of faith in our team and what they can accomplish.”

Sophomore Melissa Dunlavy led all Bulldog scorers with 10.