RFH 2010, Featured Articles, HCS Girls Basketball

Girls Advance With Sectionals Hoops Win

Sat, Feb 18, 2012

Face Poland next; time and place to be announced

It took most of first period for the HCS girls basketball team to get into its rhythm tonight, but when it did, they had little trouble beating Copenhagen 45-33 at home it's Section III Class D playoff game.

Hamilton will next face Poland in the semifinals. The time, day and location won't be known until Sunday. Poland advanced by beating New York Mills 57-39.

The first period ended at just 8-3, but Hamilton found its shooting range and opened that to 25-11 at the half and cruised to the win despite struggling on the boards.

"We started off slow," said HCS Coach Jessica Poole. "We started to press on defense and that sparked our offense."

Katie Weeks (with the ball in photo) was a big part of the Emerald Knights' offensive punch against Copenhagen. She finished with 13 points, including three three-point baskets. The senior also had seven assists and five steals.

Poole said Weeks is second in all class schools in Section III in the number of threes made this year with 52. And, she is second in the number of assists with 108.

Katherine Keever also had 13 points for HCS. Hayleigh Hanson had eight, Kendall Rusch had four, Lauren Weeks had three, and Jessica Welsh and Sarah Foster each had two.

Poole said for her squad to advance to the finals, they'll need balanced scoring, play pressure defense and control the boards.

HCS, now 15-4 overall for the year, has not faced Poland this year, but beat them twice in the 2010-2011 season. Poole said her girls will have to keep Poland's leading scorers Lauren Gunderman and Natalie Powers -- two of the four seniors who start for Poland -- in check.