By Tim Huether The Lady Warriors picked up their fourth straight win last Saturday in Martin, with a thrilling late game basket by freshman Jadyn Standing Soldier to give Bennett County a 49-48 win over Hay Springs.
As the game wound down and the intensity rose, things heated up and the crowd was loud and into the action.
It didn’t start out that way as both teams were arctic circle cold on offense with Hay Springs clinging to a 7-6 lead after one quarter and a 17-15 lead at the half.
Bennett County had 10 turnovers early in the game, then did an excellent job of cleaning that up and moved the ball around well for better shots in the second half.
The Lady Warriors turned things around in the second half, putting up 26 points in the third quarter alone, led by 9 points from Amia Cottier and 7 points from Dixie Heathershaw and led 41-30 heading to the final quarter.
Bennett County looked to be in control leading 4634 on five straight points by Madi Waln, but foul trouble, including Waln fouling out, turned the game around at that point.
Hay Springs scored 13 unanswered points to take a 47-46 lead with 46 seconds to play in the game.
A free throw by Amia Cottier tied the game at 47, then with 18 seconds to go, Hay Springs made one of two free throws to go back on top.
The Lady Warriors called a time out with 10.9 seconds to go and Standing Soldier fired off a 17 foot straight on jumper with 7 seconds to go that was all net to send the crowd into a frenzy. The defense kept Hay Springs from getting off a good shot and Bennett County held on for the 49-48 win.
Madi Waln had a solid overall game with great defense while pouring in 13 points. Amia Cottier added a dozen points, 10 in the second half.
The bench players came up big in this game with 19 points, led by Dixie Heathershaw who had likely her best game of the year, with 7 points, all in the third quarter. Ally Salomon had a good game off the bench with 6 points and Jadyn Standing Soldier adding 6. Kaylee Byrne, who battled foul trouble all night, scored 3 points, while Sophia May and Hadley Schomp added 1 point each.
“Our intensity was not good to begin the game and we were caught up in who should be responsible,” said coach Waln. “Sometimes we think too much on the floor, or hear too much from the stands. Focus and simplicity are the two mental goals that we are working on to finish the year.”
“We changed to man defense in the second half and Ally Salomon did a great job on their #20,” added Waln. “Situationally, we did a poor job of knowing that when you have a lead, get out of your own way. We continued to foul and let them get back in the game. Coach Evans had a play ready for the end of the game and the girls executed and Jadyn Standing Soldier was able to knock down a game winner at the end.”
Player of the game is Ally Salomon.
The JV team kept the winning train rolling with a 26-4 win over Hay Springs in a game of just two quarters of play.
Reagan O’Neill dropped in a game high 9 points, followed by sister Peyson O’Neill with 8. Jadyn Standing Soldier added 4, Harley Harris 3 and Rylee Hicks 2.