Submitted by Diane Handy
HHMS Seventh Grade Girls Basketball Head Coach
The seventh grade Lady Huskies Basketball team brought home the 2024 Mid-Indiana Conference (MIC) Championship. Early in the season the players demonstrated they had the potential for great things.
“Throughout the season we have worked on communication, feedback, mistakes, resolutions, humility, and solutions,” explained Diane Handy, head coach of the team. “What made the MIC Championship win so special is the girls played with their heart, grit, and refusal to give up. They won with a team-focused approach.”
“We started off with playing the Kokomo Wildcats for the MIC Tourney on Wednesday, Feb. 14,” continued Coach Handy. “All players were able to contribute to this game on the court with points being scored by eight of the players, offensive plays being disrupted, and a passing game that was accurate. The Huskies won 38-11. They moved to semifinals on Saturday, Feb. 17, playing the Logansport Berries with the goal of making it to the final game against either the Tipton Blue Devils or Western Panthers. Again, all players were instrumental in the win with their baskets, their ability to block out and rebound, and their drive. The Huskies won 40-15.
“The championship game had our team facing a defensively aggressive team,” explained Coach Handy. “At half time, the ladies were down by three points and were not playing to their ability. However, they came out after half time ready, as a team, together. In the third quarter they turned the game by playing a team-focused approach. They played together, remembered each other’s strengths, and ended the quarter trailing the Panther’s by five points. In this moment, during a timeout in the fourth quarter, we decided to make a defensive switch, which we believe gave our girls the confidence and the edge to come out on top. The team then saw the court, saw one another, and together they scored 14 points total while holding the Panthers to three points! Huskies take the hard-fought win 38-32!”
Coach Handy said each player contributed to the MIC Championship win in her own way and should be proud of the part they played in this important win.
“The seventh grade Lady Huskies will continue to build upon their success with continued team reflection and having fun,” she added. “While we continue to learn from our mistakes, we will also continue to celebrate our victories and support one another through the challenges. The ladies now know they have what it takes to beat a tough team when they work together and support one another. The unity they showed will carry them to more victories on and off the court.”