For just the second time in 42 years and first since 2016, the Hiawatha girls basketball team won their home invitational on Saturday in the Roundhouse. It was a battle of state ranked teams with a combined 22-1 record, but an early 8-0 first quarter run put Hiawatha ahead for good in route to a 51-40 victory against Jackson Heights. 

The Redhawks only led 13-11 after one quarter but stretched the margin to 30-21 at halftime as sophomore Abby Ellfner came off the bench and hit three triples. After setting a new school record two nights prior with 13 treys, Hiawatha made 8 on Saturday and 6 of those were in the first half against a Cobra zone defense.  The closest Jackson Heights got after halftime was five points at 30-25, but Hiawatha responded with five straight points and protected the lead by hitting 17 of 22 free throws in the contest before two misses with a couple seconds left.

Clara Lindstrom, who set an individual school record with seven treys against ACCHS in Thursday's semifinal hit four more and scored 21 points while knocking down 9-12 from the stripe. She was named to the All Tourney Team along with Ellfner and Darcy Lierz who scored 10 in the championship. Hiawatha is now 12-1 on the season as they host Nemaha Central and Jeff West next week in Big 7 play. 

Jackson Heights had 22 turnovers and only one player made more than two shots as Kaylee Thompson's 24 points paced the Cobras who are now 11-1 on the season. Thompson was named to the All Tourney Team along with Kanyon Olberding, who was held to five points on Saturday. JH also did not make any three-pointers in ony their second game decided by less than 19 points this season.   

ACCHS won the third place game in overtime beating St. Mary's 53-51 while Atchison placed 5th with a 60-21 win against KC Harmon. 

2022 HIT All Tourney Team

Clara Lindstrom - Hiawatha
Darcy Lierz - HIawatha
Abby Ellfner - Hiawatha
Kaylee Thompson - Jackson Heights
Kanyon Olberding - Jackson Heights
Addison Schletzbaum - ACCHS
Kinzie Bauerle - ACCHS
Hayden Heim - St. Mary's 
Brenna Smith - St. Mary's
Katy Harris - Atchison