The Hamilton Heights girls basketball team had to battle in order to defend its Class 3A Sectional 24 championship, but the Huskies eventually prevailed.
Heights fell behind to New Castle at the start of the game, then came back. That scenario repeated itself in the second half, with the No. 8-ranked Huskies clawing back to force overtime. Finally, Heights won it in the extra period, 51-50, securing a second straight sectional title. It’s the sixth in program history and the first time the Huskies won back-to-back sectionals since 2012-13.
“We definitely had the will to win. Our girls didn’t quit,” said Heights coach Keegan Cherry.
The Huskies trailed 12-5 after the first quarter, but stormed back to tie the game at 20-20 by halftime. Kaylee Rhoton got hot in the second period, making three 3-pointers.
The Trojans again pulled ahead in the third quarter, taking a 35-28 lead into the fourth period. But the Huskies came back again and held a 44-41 lead late in the period before New Castle made a shot to tie the game.
The contest was tied at 44-44 at the end of regulation. In the overtime, Heights got down by four, but made one more comeback, eventually outscoring the Trojans 7-6 in the extra period. Camryn Runner helped out by making 3 of 4 foul shots, while Ella Hickok hit a 3.
The Huskies were stymied all night by New Castle’s defense, which Cherry called “an inverted triangle and two.” But Heights was able to pull it out at the end.
“All we have to do is score one more point than they do,” said Cherry. “And sure enough, that’s what we did. We scored one more point than they did.”
Rhoton drained six 3-pointers on her way to 19 points, while Runner was 10-of-13 from the line while scoring 14 points.
“Kaylee Rhoton was really good tonight,” said Cherry. “She made some timely baskets. Camyrn Runner was Camryn Runner late in regulation and overtime. She made free throws down the stretch.”
Heights is 18-5 and will play in the Bellmont regional Saturday. The Huskies play No. 2 Garrett in the first semi-final at 10 a.m., with No. 3 Benton Central taking on host Bellmont in the noon semi-final. The championship is set for 8 p.m.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 51, NEW CASTLE 50
(overtime)
Heights FG FT TP PF
Ella Hickok 2 0-2 5 3
Mia Shields 3 1-2 8 2
Camryn Runner 2 10-13 14 3
Hadleigh Cherry 0 0-0 0 0
MyKayla Moran 2 1-1 5 4
Kaylee Rhoton 6 1-2 19 1
Katie Brown 0 0-0 0 0
Kennedy Cherry 0 0-0 0 0
Totals 15 13-20 51 13
Score by Quarters
Heights 5 15 8 16 7 – 51
New Castle 12 8 15 9 6 – 50
Heights 3-pointers (8) Rhoton 6, Hickok 1 Shields 1.