Hamilton Heights picked up a win in its first Hoosier Conference East Division game of the season, traveling to Northwestern and returning home with a 43-32 victory.
The Class 3A No. 8 Huskies got off to a strong start, leading 15-5 after the first quarter. MyKayla Moran and Ella Hickok both scored six points in the first period; Hickok had two 3-pointers. Heights increased its lead to 24-12 by halftime, with Moran adding another seven points. Huskies coach Keegan Cherry said that holding the Tigers to 12 points in the half “was a solid effort.”
The Huskies stretched their advantage to 38-23 after three quarters, with Mia Shields throwing in two 3s on her way to eight points in that period. The Tigers cut into Heights’ lead slightly in the fourth quarter, but the Huskies still won comfortably.
Cherry said the fourth quarter “had a sectional feel to it terms of grinding and protecting a lead. We had some lapses late, but we’ll learn from it. Again, we have to use each opportunity we’ve got to get reps against things that’ll translate to winning a sectional. We did that tonight.”
Moran led Heights with 13 points, followed by Shields with 11 and Hickok with 10.
“Our seniors were solid all evening,” said Cherry. “MyKayla was great down low in the first half and Mia made some timely baskets. Winning at Northwestern is never easy and tonight was no exception.”
The Huskies are 6-3 and host Clinton Prairie on Saturday afternoon.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 43, NORTHWESTERN 32
Heights FG FT TP PF
Ella Hickok 4 0-0 10 0
Mia Shields 4 0-0 11 2
Camryn Runner 4 0-0 9 2
Hadleigh Cherry 0 0-0 0 3
MyKayla Moran 6 1-5 13 4
Kaylee Rhoton 0 0-0 0 0
Totals 18 1-5 43 11
Score by Quarters
Heights 15 9 14 5 – 43
Northwestern 5 7 11 9 – 32
Heights 3-pointers (6) Shields 3, Hickok 2, Runner 1.