Hartshorne girls basketball scrapped their way to an impressive victory over the number one team in Class-A.
Coming into the matchup, the Lady Bruins (Class-A 18-1) were undefeated, but the Lady Miners (Class-2A 15-2) are enjoying a successful season of their own. Hartshorne has defeated two Class-6A schools and four Class-3A schools this season, gearing them up to play with anybody in the state.
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It was a back-and-forth affair throughout and one that saw the Lady Miners playing their best when it mattered the most.
Caddo captured a 2-0 lead early but Saraya Bills quickly answered with a 3-pointer to put Hartshorne up 3-2 just 30 seconds into the game. Reanna Williams then connected on a layup to give the Lady Miners a 5-2 cushion.
But the Lady Bruins began their comeback as they went 1-for-2 from the free throw line and hit a layup to tie the game 5-5 with three minutes left in the quarter. Caddo ended the period on a 7-2 run and took a 12-7 lead going into the second quarter.
Hartshorne went back to work in the second and outscored Caddo 10-8 in the period, shrinking the deficit to 20-17 by halftime.
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The Lady Miners started the second half on offense the same way they started the first, with a Bills 3-pointer, which tied the game 20-20. Hartshorne took a 24-20 lead before the Lady Bruins recaptured it 25-24 with two minutes remaining.
Caddo held a slim 27-26 edge by the end of the third.
The Lady Miners took a 28-27 lead one minute in with a layup. Though it was close throughout the fourth quarter, Hartshorne never relinquished its lead and won the game 37-32 in the end.
Ti’Heiress Davis led the Lady Miners in scoring with 13 points. Bills scored eight points behind two 3-point makes and went 2-for-4 from the free throw line.
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Coach Dalante Redway credited the small things as to why his team was able to knock down the Lady Bruins.
“When you play teams like that, everything counts,” Redway said. “I knew in the first half we’d be in trouble if we couldn’t make free throws and execute layups, our plays, stuff like that.
“But some way, we found a way to stay in the game and keep it close.”
The Lady Miners have worked hard to get to the point they are in now.
Hartshorne graduated five seniors from last year’s team and roster just one senior on the team this season. The young team hasn’t skipped a beat in staying competitive.
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“It’s been a great season, especially after losing five seniors last year off of that team,” Redway said. “So to be able to bounce back, that just shows how hard the girls work.”
With just four games left in the regular season, Redway said he has one goal: keep winning.
“We want to win out, go into the postseason rolling,” Redway said. “When you make it to state, it doesn’t matter if you’re the worst seed or the best seed, all you’ve got to do is be better one day.”
Hartshorne plays again 6 p.m. Feb. 10 at home against Stigler.
