Ava Rinehart shot North Harrison’s girls into the District 14 semifinals Monday, hitting back to back to back jacks after things looked grim for them early against Tri-County, and the Shamrocks pulled away to a 48-31 win over the Mustangs to set up a semifinal showdown with Gilman City. With the game, North Harrison clinched its first winning season since 2020-21, when they won 15.
Both teams came into the game with identical records and goals. Not only were they playing for survival, they were playing for a winning season. Their first meeting went into overtime, so it was easy to wonder how many overtimes this game would go to.
At first, things looked grim for the Shamrocks as Allee Prescott scored four quick points for Tri-County, and the Shamrocks could not hit the broadside of a barn. Hali Smith was in early foul trouble. Jaxcynn Hansel cut it to 4-2, but the blue shirts were swarming and crashing the boards at will, and Dani Critten’s free throw put the Mustangs up 5-2.
As the clock ticked down to the last minute and nothing was working for the Shamrocks, it looked like they might not even get to 20 points. But all of a sudden, Ava Rinehart, who had scored four points in the last two games, rediscovered her shot and hit back to back to back jacks. All of a sudden, early in the second, Rinehart flipped the scoreboard, the Shamrocks were up 11-5, and they rode the momentum the rest of the way.
Hali Smith came back and got a handoff from Gracie Young and cashed in to make it 13-5. The Shamrocks were in horrific foul trouble all game, but Young was instrumental in keeping them going, leading the team with four assists and making a bunch of hustle plays to save turnovers and rebounds.
Dani Critten scored from inside to cut the Mustang deficit to 13-7. Sensing the game slipping away, Tri-County switched to their full-court press that had wreaked havoc on North Harrison and North Nodaway earlier this year. Addison Dodds got loose in transition to make it 13-9.
But unlike the first Tri-County game or the Worth County game, North Harrison didn’t panic when faced with enemy players swarming, trapping, and poking at the ball. Lani Briggs answered with a 3-pointer and North Harrison broke through the press on its next play, with Hali Smith cleaning up on a miss to make it 18-9.
There was an anxious moment at the end of the half when Lily Turner slashed and drew Ava Rinehart’s third foul, hitting one of two to make it 18-10. Frequently, such plays can be momentum changers, but Lani Briggs hit Hali Smith inside to start the second half to make it 20-10.
The teams went blow for blow after that. It looked like Tri-County might be able to make a charge after the Shamrock foul trouble began to mount again, as Addison Milligan picked up her fourth foul and Jaxcynn Hansel picked up her third, but the Shamrocks kept beating the press, with Gracie Young twice hitting Jaxcynn Hansel under heavy fire, and Hansel hitting two free throws and a layup. Finally, Hali Smith got a putback and then Lani Briggs got a tip, Ava Rinehart got a steal, and Hali Smith finished at the other end to make it 32-18.
Lily Turner cut it to 32-19 at the end of three, but Jaxcynn Hansel hit Ava Rinehart on the baseline for two, and Tri-County had to switch to their man to man or risk North Harrison draining down the clock. But with the Mustangs in man to man, Lani Briggs suddenly found new daylight and scored the next six Shamrock points to put them up 40-21. Ava Rinehart went backdoor to make it 42-21.
Dani Critten tried to shoot the Mustangs back in it, cutting it to 42-24, but Hali Smith slashed and scored, Hansel got loose in transition, and Lani Briggs knocked one down on the left baseline to make it 48-24 before North Harrison subbed freely the rest of the night.
Ava Rinehart had 13 points for the Shamrocks. Hali Smith had 12, Lani Briggs 11, Jaxcynn Hansel 10, and Addison Milligan 2 as four Shamrocks hit double figures.
Jaxcynn Hansel had 5 blocks. Hali Smith had 3 and Addison Milligan 1.
Jaxcynn Hansel had 12 boards. Hali Smith had 9, Addison Milligan 8, Gracie Young 4, Lani Briggs and Ava Rinehart 3, Raegan Hogan 2, and Kaydence Lambert 1.
Gracie Young had 4 assists. Hali Smith, Lani Briggs, and Ava Rinehart had 3, Jaxcynn Hansel 2, and Addison Milligan 1.
Ava Rinehart had 4 tips. Lani Briggs and Hali Smith had 2, and Addison Milligan and Jaxcynn Hansel had 1.
Ava Rinehart had 4 steals. Lani Briggs and Addison Milligan had 2, and Hali Smith and Jaxcynn Hansel had 1.
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