Thunderbirds Edge North Star 38-34 in OT & Fall to Chester JI
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Gemma Mount
The Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbird girls basketball team hosted the North Star Knights Friday night in the Thunderbird's Edge District 9C and home opener. The Thunderbirds didn't disappoint the hometown crowd in securing a hard-fought 38-34 overtime win over the Knights. On Saturday the girls traveled east to Chester to take on the Hawks. The offense never got started in a 61-40 setback.
Friday night against the Knights, sophomore Chaynell McConnell scored off a nice pass from junior Nina Fox for an early 2-0 Thunderbird lead. McConnell then found freshman Hadley Not Afraid for a bucket and a 6-2 Thunderbird advantage. Freshman Shaydyn Blount scored off the inbound and freshman Alyssa Whitford finished the fast break for a 10-2 Thunderbird lead heading into the second quarter. Blount scored the only two points of the second quarter for the Thunderbirds, but the home team still held a 12-11 lead at the intermission. Sophomore Kelcie Mount put Hays/Lodge Pole up 16-14 late in the third quarter, but the teams would head to the fourth quarter all knotted up at 16-16. The offenses started to click in the fourth quarter with each scoring ten in the frame. Not Afraid connected from the right wing for three to even the score at 26-26 heading into overtime.
Junior Nina Fox attacked the basket for a score and a 32-30 Thunderbird lead. Blount made a nice pass to Mount in step for a three-point bucket, giving the Thunderbirds a 35-32 lead with time running down. Hays/Lodge Pole closed out the contest at the charity strip to secure the 38-34 win over the Knights. Not Afraid led the way with eight points, while Mount added seven in the win.
Saturday in Chester, the Thunderbirds never really found their footing against the Hawks. Despite a strong start that saw Hays/LP take an 11-9 lead into the second quarter, the Thunderbirds couldn't stay close in the second with Chester/J-I erupting for 22 points to the Thunderbirds' six. Chester/J-I led 31-17 at the break, 41-29 at the end of three and 61-40 at games end. The Thunderbirds' scheduled contest with the Harlem Wildcats for Tuesday has been rescheduled for January 22, 2024.
