WASHINGTON —
Washington got its usual offensive production from junior forward Ally Hunsinger in a 58-45 win over Eastern Greene at the Hatchet House Saturday, but the Hatchets may be on the verge of finding a second inside weapon.
Hunsinger followed a 31-point performance against Evansville Memorial with
22 against the Thunderbirds (5-3).
But center Audra Stallman tossed in 14 and continues to show signs of improvement for a Washington team that has now won four straight.
"This was her best game of the year, but we¹ve been saying that throughout the year," Miles said. "Each practice and each game, that kid continues to get better. She¹s a huge component for us to be successful. We've been lucky to find more scorers, and Ally and Audra work well together. It just makes us that much better." And while Stallman¹s performance was welcomed, the Hatchets (5-2) still look to Hunsinger.
"Ally has been pretty consistent for us," Miles said. "I think being who she is - she¹s not happy with today - because there are areas for her to improve. Just her competitive nature allows her to get around the basket. She had 10 offensive rebounds."
Hunsinger and Stallman combined for eight early points, Hunsinger six and Stall man two, as Washington took an 8-2 lead in the opening three minutes it never surrendered.
"The kids did a great job of playing defense and sparking us on the offensive end," Miles said. "Our guards did a great job of finding our post players against the man-to-man defense." The quarter ended with the Hatchets on top 18-11, and when Washington scored the opening 10 points of the second, the Hatchets appeared to be on their way to a rout.
But that was before Sierra New, who paced Eastern with 18, tried to get Eastern back in the thick of things with a trio of 3-pointers. Her final three came with 45 seconds remaining and would conclude the scoring with the Hatchets on top 30-20.
"Right from the beginning Audra Lane and Hannah Mason did a great job of trapping and going right at them," Miles said. "We were able to get some easy baskets out of transition." The trend followed in the third as Washington got the first six points of the third, four from Mason and two from Lane, to open a 36-20 lead that Eastern cut back to 45-33 at the end of the third.
Eastern was able to cut the gap to 46-39 with 5:20 to play, but that was as close as the Thunderbirds could come.
Washington now welcomes Big 8 rival Jasper to the Hatchet House today. The Wildcats entered Saturday with a 6-0 mark and a 1-0 conference slate. But the Wildcats were schedule to play conference leader Mount Carmel, Ill., (9-0, 2-0) that afternoon.
Still, the test is important for a Washington team on a winning streak and playing better with each game.
"It will help show us where we are and what we need to improve upon,² MIles said. "They are three-time defending sectional champions. It will be a huge game and test to see where we are and where we need to be." Washington won the junior varsity game, 43-27.
EASTERN GREENE 11 9 13 12 ‹ 45
WASHINGTON 18 12 15 13 ‹ 58
Eastern Greene (45) - Resler 3 2-2 0 8, Martin 0 0-0 0 0, Butler 1 1-2 2 3, Fleener 1 0-0 1 2, Tarr 0 0-0 0 0, Butler 1 1-2 0 3, Todd 1 0-0 2 2, New 7
0-0 3 18, Dubois 0 4-4 2 4, Morguson 0 0-0 0 0, Arthur 2 0-0 2 5. Totals 16
8-10 12 45.
Washington (58) - A. Lane 2 2-3 2 6, Perez 4 0-0 1 8, Mahon 0 0-0 2 0, Stallman 7 0-0 2 14, Waggoner 0 0-0 0 0, Hunsinger 11 0-6 3 22, Mason 4 0-0
0 8, Johnson 0 0-0 1 0. C. Lane 0 0-0 0 0, Lundy 0 0-0 0 0. Totals 28 2-9 11 58.
3-point goals: Eastern Greene 5 (New 4, Arthur), Washington 0.
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