Hardin knocks off H-D in overtime 48-44
Chloe Sellers of Hardin has rebound position on Monday night at home against Hull-Daisetta. The Vindicator | Jerry Michalsky
Kayleigh Armstrong of Hull-Daisetta brings the ball upcourt against Hardin on Monday night in non-district play. The Vindicator | Jerry Michalsky
Vaquaylon Haskins of Hull-Daisetta hangs in the air for two points last Monday night at Hardin. The Vindicator | Jerry Michalsky
HARDIN- For the second time this season, the Hardin Lady Hornets and Hull-Daisetta Lady Cats got together on the hardwood, and for the second time this season, the final score could not be decided in regulation, so the game went into overtime.
Emma Smart’s bucket with 1:20 proved to be the game-winner and then her steal on the other end sealed the deal on a Lady Hornets 48-44 win over the Lady Cats in non-district play.
Hardin jumped out to a big early lead as Chloe Sellers hit a jumper for a 14-4 lead. Maddy Fregia then made a lay-up, and the advantage was up to 18-4 in the second quarter. Down 20-4. Vaquaylon Haskins then nailed a jumper to cut the deficit to 206. Kylee Abney then responded with a jump shot for the Lady Hornets to expand their lead to 24-8. Hardin led 24-10 at the break.
H-D scored the first five points of the second half, highlighted by a bucket by Kaidyn Smith to cut the deficit to 2415. A basket by Fregia ended the run and pushed the lead back to 26-15. Kaylei Armstrong of the Lady Cats then started to go to work. Her jumper and threepoint play sandwiched between a steal and score cut the lead to 30-24. After grabbing an offensive rebound and scoring, Fregia ran the lead back to 33-25.
Armstrong continued to stay on fire, and her three-pointer had H-D down just 35-33 with 1:50 left in the fourth quarter. Tied at 35 apiece, Fregia scored off an assist from Emma Smart, and the Lady Hornets were back in front at 37-34. Armstrong responded with another make from downtown, and the game was tied again at 37 with 1:03 left. Both teams had possessions before time ran out in regulation, but neither team could score, so the game went into overtime.
In the extra four-minute session, Hardin moved ahead 4239 as Sellers drove to the hoop and scored. Armstrong then scored her 26th point of the second half with a three-pointer, and the game was tied again at 44. Smart then gave the Lady Hornets the lead for good with a score to make it 46-44.
Armstrong finished with 28 points to lead the game in scoring, while Fregia scored 21 for Hardin. H-D will start district play on Jan. 6 at home against West Hardin. Hardin will host Orangefield on Tuesday night.