Essex holds steady in Corner race

ESSEX — With wins over South Page and Stanton last week, the Essex Trojanettes firmly held their third place spot in the Corner Conference girls basketball standings.

The latest win came Friday night in a 71-33 blowout at home on senior night versus the South Page Rebels.

While the senior group of Kym Graham, Amber Ohnmacht and Sara Skalberg were honored, it was sophomore Jescenia Mosley providing a glimpse into the future for Essex basketball.

Mosley scored 25 points, most of which came in the second half as Essex (12-5 overall, 10-3 conference) took control and never looked back, completing the regular season sweep of the Rebels.

Mosley started the scoring early with five points in the first quarter, including one on a dish inside by freshman point guard Daiton Martin, to help put the Trojanettes in the lead.

South Page got the lead down to 8-7, but Ohnmacht and Ausha Gay hit a couple of three-pointers to pull away. Essex went on a 13-2 run in the final 3:17 of the quarter to take a 21-9 lead at the end of one.

The scoring slowed down in the second quarter, but Essex went into the break with a 30-16 lead.

Both teams came out sluggish to start the third quarter. However, Mosley, Martin, Bethany Johnson and Ciara Burnison led the Trojanettes on another run in the final four minutes of the quarter, outscoring the Rebels 13-2 and taking a 49-22 lead entering the fourth.

After a bucket by Carlson and another three-pointer by Ohnmacht, Mosley took over once again, driving to the basket for point after point.

Essex got the mercy rule clock running late and completed the game with a win.

Ohnmacht was the next high scorer for Essex, recording 13 points in the win.

Essex also defeated Stanton Thursday night 55-39. Stats from the game weren’t available as of press time.

For Essex to possibly clinch a share of second place in the Corner Conference regular season standings, they would need to win out, including defeating Nishnabotna at home Feb. 10.

The Blue Devils sit in second place with a 10-2 conference record.

Essex faces a tough test Tuesday night, however, when they take on Sidney. The game will be played at Sidney High School starting at 6 p.m.

They’ll be home again Friday night to face Clarinda Academy.