Gilman City rolled on through sectionals Monday as they beat Norborne 64-29 behind 17 points from Hailey McClure. The Hawks had four players in double figures and six in the scoring column in the win.
Hailey was on from the beginning when she went to the rack, drew a foul, and hit both free throws to put the Hawks up 2-0. Tenley Griffith got a steal and drive, Alli Burke hit a 3-pointer, and Avery Gregg converted a third-chance putback to make it 9-0.
But the game was not without a couple of scary moments. The first happened after Millea Miller hit a triple for the Pirates, and then Khloey Sperry got the wind knocked out of her while scrambling for a loose ball. She was out until the start of the second quarter, but the Hawks held their ground as Tenley Griffith connected again before Avi Leabo took advantage of a carom and scored to make it 11-5 after one.
Sperry came back for the second quarter and Alli Burke splashed a triple, Sperry turned a third-chance try into a free throw, Sperry got loose in transition and got a pass from Avery Gregg, and Avery went coast to coast to make it 19-5.
But Norborne would not go quietly; they were in the Sectionals for a reason and they may have been playing their last game, given they have seven players on the roster, five of them seniors, and only one eighth grader listed on their junior high roster. They were following Mercer’s lead by faceguarding Avery Gregg and Khloey Sperry and daring someone else to beat them. And they lived and died by their press, which they were not afraid to use even after a missed shot.
Avi Leabo slashed and scored and then Kristin Waters stole the ensuing inbounds pass to cut it to 19-9. The teams traded blows for the rest of the quarter, leaving Gilman City ahead 26-16.
Leabo cut it to 26-18, and Norborne got the ball back with a chance to cut it to two possessions, but Khloey Sperry jumped a pass and scored, starting a big Hawk run. All of a sudden, with the Pirates swarming Gregg and Sperry every time they touched the ball, Hailey McClure realized it was her time to step up and score, and she did, slashing and scoring . Alli Burke pulled up and hit a 3-pointer in transition, McClure slashed and got to the line, making both tries, and then added a triple to make it 38-18.
Carleigh Ellis hit a 3-pointer to break the run, but then Avi Leabo clotheslined Tenley Griffith, who was fighting for a rebound, picking up her fourth foul. Griffith was shaken up on the play, but Paisley Taggart came in and Griffith came back later.
Hailey McClure knocked one down from the high post, Avery Gregg cashed in off a Khloey Sperry steal, and then Paisley Taggart stole an errant outlet pass and threw it in at the buzzer to make it 44-21.
Millea Miller picked up her fourth foul to start the fourth quarter for Norborne. As the foul trouble mounted for the Pirates, the Hawks found a lot more open lanes to the basket. Khloey Sperry made one of two after Norborne got to five fouls in just the first minute of the fourth quarter. Sperry cashed in off a Pasiley Taggart steal and Alli Burke made her second pullup three of the night to make it 50-21.
Norborne made one last stand as Kristin Waters cut inside and scored and Leabo came back and added a triple to make it 50-26. But Avery Gregg made one of two at the line, Alli Bruke got loose in transition against the press, Khloey Sperry drew a foul after a second-chance putback try and cashed in at the free throw line, Khloey Sperry aired one out to Hailey McClure for two, Khloey Sperry blocked a shot, rebounded it, and aired it out to Avery Gregg for two, and Paisley Taggart got a steal and fed Hailey McClure for two to make it 61-26.
The Hawks subbed freely at that point, but they kept pulling away as Avery Gregg made one more free throw before checking out and Hailey McClure got loose in transition again at the buzzer.
Hailey McClure had 17 points for the Hawks. Alli Burke had 14, Avery Gregg 13, Khloey Sperry 12, Tenley Griffith 6, and Paisley Taggart 2.
Khloey Sperry had 3 blocks and Alli Burke 1.
Tenley Griffith had 13 boards. Khloey Sperry had 9, Alli Burke 8, Hailey McClure and Avery Gregg 5, and Paisley Taggart 4.
Khloey Sperry had 5 assists. Alli Bruke and Avery Gregg had 3, Hailey McClure and Paisley Taggart 2, and Tenley Griffith 1.
Tenley Griffith had 9 tips. Khloey Sperry had 8, Paisley Taggart, Avery Gregg, and Hailey McClure had 5, and Alli Burke had 2.
Khloey Sperry had 6 steals. Paisley Taggart had 4, Tenley Griffith 3, Avery Gregg 2, and Alli Burke 1.
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