Lynnville-Sully’s girls basketball team only had one game on the schedule last week, but they made it a memorable one on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 4. The Hawks led most of the game before losing the lead in the fourth quarter. Not giving in, L-S came from behind in the final minute against a quality Baxter team for the 45-42 victory. The win marked a milestone in coach Jerry Hulsing’s years as a head coach – his 600th victory at the helm. Immediately following the game, Hulsing was presented with the game ball, a com-memorative trophy, special recognition, and a standing ovation from the home crowd.
Baxter had the 9-7 advantage after one quarter, but L-S put together a strong second, scoring twice as many as the Bolts, to go into halftime up 23-17. Both teams came out of the half ready for battle and by the end of the third, Baxter cut the lead to three points with the scoreboard reading 34-31. In the fourth quarter, the Bolts took the lead early and maintained it for much of the fourth quarter. The Hawks kept fighting and made every made bucket and defensive stop count. With just under a minute left, freshman Kate Harthoorn was fouled on a three-pointer. She went to the line and sank all three to give L-S a one-point lead. The Hawks turned up the defensive pressure and forced a Bolts turnover on the ensuing inbounds play to get the ball back. Another Hawk bucket as seconds ticked off made it a three-point game. With mere seconds left on the clock, the Bolts were not able to get a good shot off, and the Hawks prevailed for the memorable win, 45-42.
“Wow, the girls really gutted out the win tonight,” said coach Hulsing. “We played well defensively tonight, making it challenging for Baxter to get into a rhythm on offense. Our offense was good when we attacked the rim and moved the ball well. The key was in the last minute and a half, we rebounded the ball well.”
Vos and senior Greenlee Smock had nearly identical stats for the night – both scored 13 points and pulled down five rebounds. Harthoorn went 4-for-5 from the line, including three crucial shots from the charity stripe to take the late lead, and finished with nine points. Freshman Tatum Huyser and sophomore Alaina Roberts both hit a trey, and juniors Aubree Arthur and Brooke Conover were credited with a bucket.
Arthur crashed the boards hard and led the team with six rebounds and also had a team-high two blocks. Smock was the team’s steals leader with four. Harthoorn delivered three assists to lead the Hawks.
L-S JV trumps Baxter
Following the thrilling varsity win, Lynnville-Sully’s JV team dominated in the North gym, finishing the successful day with a 60-13 win. Several players hit double digits in scoring led by freshmen – Morgan Hay finished with 14 points, Harthoorn 11 points, and Huyser and Jaelynn Smith with 10 each. Sophomores Alaina Roberts and Olivia Norrish poured in nine and six points, respectively.
“It was a fun last home game for the Hawks! We filled up the basket for lots of points and ran in transition. The girls are unselfish, playing as a team,” said JV coach Jeff Corbett.
L-S JV, varsity fall at Chariton
The girls teams kicked off a new week by playing at Chariton in a girls-only contest. In the JV game’s final game of the season, the night didn’t go in the Hawks’ favor as they fell to the Chargers, 23-13, in two quarters on Monday, Feb. 6. Huyser and Hay both had four points, Roberts added three, and Smith dropped in two. While it was a disappointing loss, it does not measure the success the team has had this season. The L-S JV team finished with an 8-2 record.
In the second game of the night, a slow start plagued the Hawks in the final regular season game against Chariton on Monday, Feb. 6. The Hawks were down by 10 at halftime and could not make up ground in the second half, falling to the Chargers, 47-34. “We didn't show up mentally ready to play and let the physicality of the game keep us from executing what we needed to do,” said coach Hulsing.
Smock led the team in scoring with 14 points, nine of those coming off three-pointers. She also had four steals, two assists, and a block.
Arthur and Vos both added six points and six rebounds each. Harthoorn hit a bucket and two free throws for four points, and Roberts hit a trey. Conover hit a free throw and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds for the Hawks.
The Hawks will look to regroup as they set their eyes on the postseason. Their first game is on Feb. 9. See below for details.
