The stage was set for an instant classic matchup on Tuesday, Jan. 15, as the (9-3) Jersey Shore Bulldogs were matched up against the (8-4) Shikellamy Braves. The game certainly did not disappoint as both teams battled to the end, but a third quarter surge from beyond the three-point line helped the Bulldogs to gain a lead they would not relinquish, as they beat the Braves, 45-34.

After winning the tip, Shikellamy got out to a fast start, jumping out to an early 6-0 lead before eventually getting out to a 9-4 lead with five minutes left in the first quarter. Shikellamy got out to a quick lead thanks to their star, Lily Fatool, starting off hot from inside the arc.

But it wasn’t long before the Bulldogs settled in, in large part thanks to their defense managing to cool Fatool off. Jersey Shore’s Peyton Dincher managed to knock down two shots down low, before a huge three by Kylie Schall made it so the ‘dogs were only down three at the end of the first, trailing 13-10.

In the second quarter, disaster struck for the Braves, as the Bulldog defense managed to hold them scoreless for the entire eight minutes of play. Meanwhile, the Jersey Shore offense kept humming along, taking the lead thanks to a 7-0 run led by Cailyn Schall knocking down a pair of twos and threes to give the Bulldogs a 20-13 lead going into the half.

In the second half, the Shikellamy offense got going, but it was too little too late as the Bulldogs and Peyton Dincher caught fire. Dincher knocked down four huge threes in the third quarter, all from way beyond the arc and with a defender in her face. Her shooting propelled the Bulldogs to a 16-point third quarter, and from there it was a wrap.

“She has worked very hard at it and has developed a very deep skill set Jersey Shore head coach Mike Schall said when asked about Dincher’s performance, “ And when she has the mode to flow through that skill set she can offensively dominate.”

“What went into the win was good work for the last two practices.” coach Schall said when asked on his thoughts, “The kids were super smart and learned quick, they came out and played really solid team defense. There is obviously a very good player on the other side of the floor, and we knew she was going to get hers, but we were able to contain her in a number of ways.”

Jersey Shore 45, Shikellamy 34

SHIKELLAMY (34)

Lily Fatool 8 8-9 29; Kianah Lenner 1 0-0 2; Kelsey Deitrich 0 1-2 1; Ruby Kohl 1 0-0 2, Totals 11 9-11 34.

JERSEY SHORE (45)

Peyton Dincher 6 4-6 20; Sophia Stover 2 1-2 6; Cailyn Schall 5 1-2 14; Hannah Heaton 1 0-0 2; Kylie Schall 1 0-0 3. Totals 15 6-10 40.

Shikellamy: 13 0 7 14 – 34

Jersey Shore: 10 10 16 9 – 45

Three-pointers: Shikellamy 3 (Fatool 3); Jersey Shore 9 (Dincher 4, Stover 1, C. Schall 3, K.Schall 1).

Records: Jersey Shore 9-3.