Hall’s balance overwhelms ’Hawks

Heathwood Hall’s T’Keyah Worthy tries to break the double team of Hammond’s Kaki Smith and Rachel Hanna. A’ja Wilson had 13 points and blocked three shots in the final minute to lead the Heathwood Hall Lady Highlanders (11–8, 6–1) over the visiting Hammond Lady Skyhawks 43–34 Tuesday, February 2.

Wilson’s effort was part of a balanced Heathwood attack as Logan Ress added 10 points, and Kiaya Demonbreun finished with nine. In all, six Highlanders scored – four in just the first quarter. By contrast, Kaki Smith scored all of Hammond’s six points in the first quarter. She finished with 21 points. Elizabeth Stuckey added eight, and Georgia Theodore got four points for Hammond (6–14, 1–7).

Still, the Lady Skyhawks battled and did it without the services of possibly their best player, Elaine Epting. They fell behind 8–2 with 2:54 to play in the first quarter, but Smith’s two buckets closed the gap to 8–6, and Stuckey’s follow up basket tied the score at 8–8 to start the second.

Hammond’s Kaki Smith tries to get a shot over Heathwood Hall’s A’ja Wilson. Two quick lay ups from Wilson included a conventional three–point play pushed the Heathwood lead to 13–8. The Lady Skyhawks fought back, and Stuckey’s free throw closed the gap to two points once more. The Lady Highlanders built a four point lead after Victoria Dickerson’s jump shot, but Smith led Hammond back. Her free throw and another bucket closed the Heathwood lead to 22–20 to end the first half.

The teams played virtually even in the third quarter with good interior passing from both, and Heathwood led 29–26 going into the final quarter.

After six quick points from Logan Ress and Carson Lunceford’s free throw, the Lady Highlanders led 36–28. Stuckey’s three– pointer cut the lead to five, but that was as close as Hammond would get.