The two teams expected to make it to the championship game of the girls Ripley County basketball tournament did.

The Batesville Lady Bulldogs and the Jac-Cen-Del Lady Eagles squared off Friday night at Milan High School in quest of the 2008 tournament title.

The Lady Bulldogs were seeking their second title in the past 17 years with the last one coming in 2006. The Lady Eagles last county title came in 2002 and they were looking to avenge a six point loss to South Ripley just a year ago.

The game went back and forth as expected, but it was the Lady Eagles emerging victorious by a score of 49-43.

Batesville took an early lead and held a 13-10 advantage after the first eight minutes of play. Amy Wuestefeld scored in the final seconds of the first quarter to give the Lady Bulldogs a three point lead.

Tournament most valuable player Kaylin Ploeger jumpstarted the Lady Eagles in the second quarter. The senior center scored seven of the team’s first 10 points as the Lady Eagles jumped out to an 18-13 lead. Teammate Kiersten Young hit one of her three 3-pointers for the game to account for the difference.

Ashley Wuestefeld broke the ice for the Lady Bulldogs with the team’s first field goal of the quarter at the 4:01 mark.

The first half ended with coach Scott Smith’s JCD crew in front 24-19. The Lady Eagles capped the first half scoring on a nice assist from Kristen Hicks to Kara Harlemert for the basket.

The Lady Bulldogs made a run in the third quarter similar to Jac-Cen-Del in the second. The Wuestefeld sisters accounted for the eight points as the JCD lead diminished to 28-27 with just over five minutes to play in the third quarter.

The third quarter ended with the Lady Eagles holding on to a slim 35-33 advantage.

Jac-Cen-Del did not fold under the pressure. Coach Smith’s squad bounced back with a 7-4 run to open the final quarter.

A Ploeger field goal at the 1:52 mark then put the Lady Eagles on top 44-38 as time started to become a factor.

The Lady Bulldogs would get only as close a five points the rest of way.

Jac-Cen-Del finished with three players scoring in double figures. Ploeger led the way with 13 points, while Harlemert and Young finished with 12 and 11 points respectively.

Batesville had three players – Amy Wuestefeld, Ashley Wuestefeld and Madison Lamppert – score 11 points.