The Hackett Jr High Hornets and Lady Hornets have been busy, busy, busy this week as each squad played back to back home games. On Monday night, Hackett took on some fierce Trinity teams then turned around on Tuesday to host the primed Tigers of West Fork. Now with four games under their belts, the Hornets hold a 3-1 record while the Lady Hornets are 1-3.
“We came up a little short against the Trinity Lady Buffaloes,” explained head girls’ coach, Broc Adams on the 34-28 final score. “But we competed until the very end. We are improving each day and I’m proud of how hard they are working!” Alex Bunch led in scoring with 10 points trailed by Aaliyah Escoffier and Jessie Mendenhall with 6 points each, Alona Rothwell with 4, and Camryn Stiles with 2.
Earning their second win of the season, the Hornets ended their match with Trinity, on the top side of the board with a score of 42-37. “My guys are starting to play more consistently with a week’s worth of practice under their belt. We are dealing with some quarantine issues and played against Trinity with 6 guys. The work ethic and buy-in from this team is unbelievable. We still have some minor things to fix but that all will come with more competitive practices and games,” detailed boys’ coach, Kent Elmore. Eli Slavens was on fire with 16 points on the game with 9 of those points coming from 3 three-pointers. Cole Ketchum brought in 9 points, Hayden Foster earned 7, Dawsyn Clay made 6, and Wyatt Hester secured 4.
In their second night of defying gravity, the Lady Hornets fought a good fight but finished with the West Fork Lady Tigers taking the 25-19 win. Escoffier netted 7 points, Bunch made 6, and with 2 points apiece were Rothwell, Makenzie Freeman, and Ashley Rodriguez.
To wrap up the two-day hoop fest, the Jr Hornets saw their second night of runnin’ and gunnin’ with another victory. “We won 33-25 against West Fork. My guys played really well in another great game. Cole Ketchum took a big step forward and had a breakthrough game. Eli Slavens continues to be a huge threat on offense. Wyatt Hester, Hayden Foster, Datyn Clay, and Dawsyn Clay have huge impacts on the defensive end. We were outsized at every position Tuesday night and still found a way to play big. I’m proud of our guys and the fight they brought on the defensive end. I can’t wait to get basketball going in full swing. Go Hornets!” Ketchum was the top scorer in this game with 17 points followed by Slavens with 9, Hester with 6, and Foster with 4.
The games scheduled for Thursday, November 19 against Lamar have been canceled.
Photos courtesy of Mandy Foster and Bridget Freeman.
