Sports

Lady Hippos clinch playoff spot

By Sydney Maxey
Wednesday, February 3, 2010 10:01 AM CST

Tuesday night the Lady Hippos faced Lampasas, beginning the second round of district play. The match-up featured numerous fouls, frequent comebacks and four minutes of adrenaline fueled overtime which ended in a 63-52 Hutto victory.

Ashlyn Ward started the first quarter with two consecutive buckets and Shelby Debord sank two 3-pointers to give Hutto a 10-4 lead early. A drive from Haylea Jackson, back door look to Debord and a 3-pointer by Kayla Uptmore concluded the first quarter with the Hippos up 20-11.

In the second, Ward scored a basket just inside the arc for Hutto, while Lampasas went to the foul line for three consecutive possessions, only scoring 2 out of 6 free throws. Lady Hippos’ head coach Norma Sierra called a timeout with 5:38 on the clock in the second, her Hippos with a seven-point advantage over the Badgers, 22-15.

Two buckets on the Badgers’ side and back-to-back turnovers by Hutto shaved Lampasas’ deficit. Jordan Hemker scored two consecutive baskets from the blocks getting fed by Ward and Jackson while Michelle Braswell and Debord both made appearances at the foul line. Hutto finished the first half four points ahead, 29-25.

Lampasas came out with two drives and free throws to tie the game at 31-31 in the third. Baskets from Hemker, Jackson and Ward made up the eight points Hutto scored in the third quarter. Lampasas outscored the Lady Hippos 20-8 and gained the lead for the first time in the game. Hutto went into the fourth with an eight point deficit at 37-45.

The first six points of the final quarter were Braswell’s, baskets from the paint and behind the foul line. Two drives by Jackson, a layup from Debord through the lane and crucial free throws by Hemker tied the score at 52-52. Neither team was able to score in the 20 seconds that remained on the clock, and Hutto and Lampasas found themselves headed into overtime.

“Going into overtime we felt good,” Jackson said. “We settled down and it was a new game.”

Hutto pulled away quickly in overtime and its defense secured the lead until the finish. Free throws from Braswell and Jackson made up seven of the 11 Hutto points in the additional four minutes of play. Baskets from Hemker and Debord tacked on the final four points in the game. Hutto’s defense prevented the Badgers from scoring in overtime and the Lady Hippos won 63-52.

Lampasas had a clear height advantage over Hutto Tuesday night, but the Lady Hippos capitalized on their speed and agility through the lane. Hutto also made critical baskets at the right time. With Hutto down by two points and only 20 seconds remaining in the forth Hemker said, “Chills were running down my spine. I knew I couldn’t miss the shot when I went to the free throw line.”

Hutto’s offense was lax during the second, but its defense stayed consistent through the night.

“We’ve played better, but when it came down to it we pulled it out tonight,” Debord said.

Debord was the point leader of the night with 14. Braswell and Jackson each contributed 12 and Hemker had 11 points of her own.

Following Tuesday night’s game the Lady Hippos were on the road against Marble Falls, Hutto won in overtime 60-56 over the Mustangs Friday. The win clinched the second consccutive playoff berth for Hutto as a Class 4A school.