BISMARCK – The start was fine for Jamestown Blue Jays Girls Basketball.  The rest was a nightmare.

Bismarck used smothering defense to force 28 Jamestown turnovers and to limit the Blue Jays to two field goals in roughly the last 27 minutes of play in a 57-41 triumph Thursday in the AA West Region girls quarterfinal in the Exhibit Hall of the Bismarck Event Center.

With two three-pointers by Mea Ulland and two baskets by Haley Attleson, Jamestown (11-11) led 19-11 midway through the first half.  Then, shots just stopped falling for the Blue Jays.

Bismarck (13-9) had pressed from the start of the game, but in the last nine minutes of the second half and forward, the press tortured Jamestown, who missed 27 of their last 29 shots.  The 28 turnovers were the Blue Jays’ second-highest total of this season.

Kambree Neumiller led Bismarck with 15 points.  Her two three-pointers early in the second half helped build the Demons’ lead to 20 points at 45-25.  Izzy Dahl had 12 points and five rebounds for BHS.

Macey Neumiller was held to eight points in leading the Blue Jays’ scoring.  She was just 2-of-9 shooting.  Ulland, Milan Martin and Claire Marker all scored six points.  Marker pulled 10 rebounds and Hannah Attleson had eight, but Jamestown’s 45-25 rebounding advantage was in vain.

Jamestown will play Friday in an elimination game against St. Mary’s, who lost 75-40 to top seed Minot on Thursday.  The Saints defeated the Blue Jays in both regular season meetings.  Coverage will begin Friday at approximately 4:30 PM on The Voice of the Blue Jays, Jamestown 107.1.