The Hamilton Heights girls basketball team clinched a winning season on Thursday, coming from behind on the road to beat Lafayette Jefferson 58-55.
The Huskies were down 33-25 at halftime, but began to make their run in the third quarter, cutting the Bronchos’ lead to 42-36 by the end of the period. Heights then took over in the fourth quarter, scoring 22 points.
“Both teams traded big shots,” said Huskies coach Keegan Cherry. “Jillian Osswald had a terrific game and shot the ball really well.”
Cherry said that in the fourth quarter, the ball was in Bayleigh Runner’s hands, “and she did a terrific job of attacking the basket.”
Runner scored 20 points, while Osswald drained six 3-pointers for her 18 points. Lauryn Wiley also reached double figures for 12 points and led the rebounding with eight.
Osswald, Abby Christiansen and Mykayla Moran all pulled four rebounds in the game, while Runner handed out four assists.
“Again, fantastic team win,” said Cherry. “Proud of each one of the girls. Didn’t quit – found a way to win.”
Heights finished the regular season 12-10, doing so against the toughest schedule in the state among Class 3A teams, according to the Sagarin ratings.
The Huskies will play in Class 3A Sectional 24 at New Castle, where they will take on Yorktown at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the event’s first game.
Hamilton Heights 58, Lafayette Jefferson 55
Heights FG FT TP PF
Jillian Osswald 6-14 0-0 18 1
Bayleigh Runner 7-17 5-5 20 3
Payton Dissett 0-5 0-0 0 2
Lauryn Wiley 5-14 2-4 12 1
Abby Christiansen 3-7 0-0 6 1
Chloe Henderson 0-0 0-0 0 0
Mykayla Moran 1-1 0-0 2 1
Totals 22-58 7-9 58 9
Score by Quarters
Heights 15 10 11 22 – 58
Jefferson 20 13 9 13 – 55
Heights 3-point shooting (7-20) Osswald 6-9, Runner 1-4, Dissett 0-4, Wiley 0-3.
Heights rebounds (27) Wiley 8, Osswald 4, Christiansen 4, Moran 4, Runner 3, Dissett 3, Henderson 1.