Hornets take on Sioux

The HWC boys and girls basketball teams were in action for a split-day doubleheader, taking on the Westhope/Newburg Sioux on January 18 and 19.

The Hornet girls dropped a 47-45 heartbreaker to W-N in Newburg the first night, and the #3-ranked Sioux boys had no problems taking a 68-28 victory in Westhope that Friday night.

W-N 47, HWC 45

Girls

Westhope/Newburg hit two three pointers and a two and one and stormed back from 11 points down in the fourth quarter to steal a 47-45 win over visiting Harvey-Wells County in Newburg on Thursday, January 18.

The Sioux got the fast start with a quick 5-0 run with the help of field goals from Laken Lee and Kimberly Tabarez. The Hornets responded nicely with an 8-0 run, courtesy of five from Rachel Neumiller, and led 8-7 after the first.

HWC used a 6-2 run to start the second with points from Rylee Jones, Neumiller and Braylee Keller. Another three from Tabarez pulled the Sioux to within 16-15, but field goals from Neumiller, Breanna Heilman and Keller propelled the Hornets into a 23-15 lead at halftime.

The two teams traded field goals early in the third, but the Hornets got hot midway through the quarter. Neumiller scored 12 points, including a great baseline move to a layup, giving HWC a 35-23 lead. Freshman Macy Bryans hit a three pointer before the third quarter ended to pull the Sioux to within 39-30.

Addisyn Faul's field goal to start the fourth moved the lead back to 11, but Westhope/Newburg would find some magic in their home gymnasium. A three-pointer by Bryans was followed by a two-and- one from Lee. Another field goal from Bryans was followed by Tabarez's third three, tying the game at 41 with just over 2 minutes gone on in the fourth. Tabarez was not done, as she followed her three up with another deuce, giving the home team a two- point lead with 3:55 to play. Lee's fifth point of the fourth moved the Sioux lead to 45-42, but Keller knotted the game at 45 with a huge three pointer with 45 seconds remaining.

The Sioux would get a couple of chances to win the game late and with 2 seconds remaining, Tabarez's five footer bounced from one side of the rim to the other before falling through the net as time expired, giving Westhope/Newburg the 47-45 victory.

Tabarez would lead the Sioux with 18 points, including seven in the pivotal fourth quarter. Bryans and Lee were also in double digits with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Neumiller led all scorers with 22 points. The Hornets were hampered by 25 turnovers, many of which were in the fourth quarter.

The win moved the Sioux's record to 3-11 overall and 2-6 in District 8, while HWC dropped to 3-11 and 2-6 in district action.

W-N 68, HWC 28

Boys

Class B's third-ranked Westhope/Newburg Sioux proved their ranking from the first tip of the game, as they held Harvey-Wells County scoreless in the first quarter and to only six points in the first half, cruising to a 68-28 win in Westhope on Friday, January 19.

Walker Braaten, considered to be one of the best Class B players in the state, scored nine points in the first quarter, while Braden Bailey went four-of-four from the line and Dalton Hawkins hit a three, lifting the Sioux to a 16-0 advantage after eight minutes. The first quarter shutout continued into the second, when the streak was stopped by a deuce from HWC's Avery Williams. The onslaught continued, as Braaten scored 12 in the second including two three-pointers giving him 21 for the first half. Dayton Hawkins connected on a three pointer and Bailey scored six, giving Westhope-Newburg 27 second quarter points and a 43-6 halftime lead.

The Hornets regrouped in the second half and played much more consistent basketball. Noah Ziegler scored six and Tallen Thorson and Tyler Swang scored four each for HWC in the third. Hunter Tolstad scored six and Braaten added five more for the Sioux as the home team led 61-24 after three.

The fourth quarter flew by with the 30 point rule as many of the team reserve players got some valuable playing time. Ryan McKinven scored all four for the Hornets in the fourth, as they dropped the District 8 game, 68-28.

Braaten led all players with 26 points, and was followed in double digits by Bailey and Tolstad with 12 each. The Hornets were led in scoring by Ziegler and Thorson with six points each.

With the victory, the Sioux moved to 12-0 on the season and 5-0 in District 8 while the Hornets fell to 4-7 overall and 1-3 in District 8.

District 8 Girls Basketball

Westhope-Newburg 47, HWC 45

at Newburg

HWC 8 15 16 6 45

W-N 7 8 15 17 47

HWC: Rachel Neumiller 22, Braylee Keller 8, Breanna Heilman 6, Addisyn Faul 5, Rylee Jones 4.

W-N: Kimberly Tabarez 18, Macy Bryans 13, Laken Lee 11, Ashley Tabarez 4, Marleigh Henry 1.

District 8 Boys Basketball

Westhope-Newburg 68, HWC 28

at Westhope

HWC 0 6 18 4 28

W-N 16 27 18 7 68

HWC: Tallen Thorson 6, Noah Ziegler 6, Ryan McKinven 4, Tyler Swang 4, Avery Williams 4, Keaton Keller 2, Kayl Sieg 2.

W-N: Walker Braaten 26, Braden Bailey 12, Hunter Tolstad 12, Dalton Hawkins 7, Maddux Juntunen 6, Dayton Hawkins 3, Will Artz 2.