WASHINGTON —
The Washington girls basketball team ran out to a quick lead, and visiting Pike Central couldn't find its footing.
The Hatchets (8-4) defeated the Chargers (3-9) 67-43 for their second win in a row, Thursday evening at the Hatchet House behind 16 points from junior forward Ally Hunsinger.
Washington seemingly couldn't do anything wrong in the first quarter, while Pike Central had trouble putting together even a semblance of an offensive rhythm. Hunsinger scored eight of her 16 points in the first eight minutes to help give Washington a 15-1 lead.
In the second quarter, Washington continued to hit on all cylinders offensively, this time the Chargers put up more of a fight. The Hatchets managed 16 points in the second quarter, and Pike Central sophomore Lindsey Catt scored five of the Chargers 10 points to stretch the lead to 31-11 at halftime in favor of Washington. Washington head coach Gretchen Miles said an important factor in the Hatchets quick start was a focus on the defensive end.
"I was very pleased with, especially at the beginning of the game was getting out defensively, and limiting their (Pike Central) opportunities to get easy baskets," Miles said. "We're trying to strive to eliminate shots around the basket. Keep cutters out of the lane, and make them take tough shots. The flip side of that too, is that we have to be able to get out in transition, and capitalize on those stops that we get defensively, and turn those into points." In the second half, the Chargers played nearly even with Washington, as the Hatchets won the final two quarters by a total score of 36-32. Pike Central got four 3-pointers in the second half from junior Emily Howes on her way to a game-high 19 points, but the Chargers could't overcome the huge hold they put themselves in early on. In addition to Hunsinger's 16, Washington got 13 from Audra Stallman, 10 points from Lupe Perez and eight points off the bench from sophomore Cheyenne Jones.
The Hatchets will have today off, before visiting conference opponent Princeton (11-5, 2-2 Big Eight), and explosive freshman Jackie Young on Saturday afternoon.
"It's going to be a huge ball game," Miles said. "Princeton is an outstanding ball club. Their record shows it, the competition that they have played has shown that, and of course they have the stud, in Jackie Young. She (Young) doesn't play like a freshman, the only thing that is a freshman about her is the No. 9 on the roster. We have to get a win against a solid and competitive opponent."
PIKE CENTRAL 1 10 14 18 43
WASHINGTON 15 16 19 17 67
Pike Central (43) - Ashby 2 0-0 0 4, Leighty 2 1-1 3 5, Like 2 4-4 2 8, Howes 5 5-6 4 19, Halbrader 0 2-4 5 2, Catt 2 1-2 3 5, Roettger 0 0-0 1 0, Nixon 0 0-0 3 0, McCammon 0 0-0 1 0, McFarland 0 0-0 2 0. Totals 13 13-17 24 43.
Washington (67) - Lane 2 2-2 1 6, Perez 4 2-2 4 10, Hunsinger 5 6-8 4 16, Mason 2 3-4 1 7, 2 8-8 5 13, Mahan 1 2-6 1 4, Jones 4 0-0 1 8, C. Lane 1 0-0
0 2. Totals: 21 24-34 18 67.
3-point goals: Pike Central 4 (Howes 4).
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