Holton ,KS

For the second time in six days Hiawatha and Holton met up on the hardwood, this time it would be a Holton sweep at home as the Holton girls would win 47-25 and the Holton boys 62-56.

GIRLS – Holton jumped out early on the defensive side, forcing 6 first quarter turnovers and not allowing a single basket to lead 9-0 at the end of one. The second frame Hiawatha got some scoring going with Sophomore Clara Lindstrom leading the 'Hawks in scoring with five in the quarter, but Holton continued to surge to a halftime lead of 20-12. Defense was the name of the game on the night for Holton as they kept up the pressure, forcing a total of 18 Hiawatha turnovers and cruised in the second half to win 47-25

Holton (11-8) turned up the heat on the defensive side once again, leading to easy buckets on the other end. Holton once again was led in scoring by Junior Saydee Tanking with 17 points on the night including 11/11 from the foul line.

Hiawatha (7-12) struggled to see the ball go through the basket on Monday, after a big shooting night previously against the Wildcats. In the last meeting the Redhawks put up 46 on Holton with Lindstrom and fellow Sophomore Sarah Madsen finishing in double figures, but Tuesday the 'Hawks were unable to get the duo going. The Redhawks got to the foul line just nine times in the game and made only two threes.

SCORING

Holton – S. Tanking 17, M. Patch 12, F. Haussler 6, T. Moore 6, D. Hickman 4, P. Crouch 2

Hiawatha – C. Lindstrom 9, B. Diller 6, D. Lierz 4, K. Madsen 2, S. Madsen 2, J. Hrencher 2

BOYS – The first meeting came down to the final two minutes before the game was decided with Hiawatha coming away with the 60-56 victory. This time, however, a different story was written. Holton jumped out of the gate early leading 7-0 three minutes into the game before coach Gary Smith called his first timeout. Hiawatha would respond with a five to nothing run to get back within two, before Holton closed the first quarter on a 9-5 run as the 'Cats led 16-10 after one. Three point basket. That was a phrase used a lot in this game, especially in the second quarter as Holton hit four of them in the frame to extend their lead up to thirteen at the halftime break leading 31-18. Hiawatha would not shy away in this game. Senior Tyler Brockhoff was shut down in the first half scoring only three points, but came out like a man on a mission in the second half. He paced the Redhawks with eight in the third quarter as Hiawatha got the lead under double digits trailing Holton 42-34 heading to the fourth. A fourth quarter that saw a combined 42 points scored between the teams would once again come down to the final minutes. The Redhawks made a push to get the game within four a few times but this time Holton was able to hold off the Redhawks with three point basket after three point basket to win 62-56.

Holton (5-14) played their most complete game of the season on Monday. Turning the basketball over just fourteen times while hitting ten triples in the game and shooting a solid 8-12 from the foul line. The biggest lift though came from the balance scoring attack led by Sophomore Reese Holaday. Holaday had a career high 23 points in the game including three trifectas, and paced the 'Cats not just offensively but also on the defensive side. Holton also saw double figures from Senior Kale Purcell with 14 points and Senior Eli Prine with 15 points.

Hiawatha (10-9) now has lost six of their last 8 games down the stretch and are looking to get things back in order before sub state time. The week prior, Senior Andrew Lierz and Brockhoff were almost untouchable against the Wildcats, combining for 39 of the Redhawk 60. Monday, they combine for just 27 of the 56. The Redhawks did see some toughness and focus into the second half, but in games this season when Hiawatha struggles to get out of the gate quickly the Redhawks are having a tough time climbing out of those holes.

SCORING

Holton – R. Holaday 23, E. Prine 15, K. Purcell 14, M. Lierz 4, B. Mulroy 3, B. Bontrager 3

Hiawatha – T. Brockhoff 17, A. Lierz 10, P. Winters 8, S. Meyer 8, M. Moreno 7, A. Coffelt 6