HOPE — When Hauser scored 15 consecutive points toward the end of the first quarter to go ahead by double digits, it looked like the Jets were well on their way to another easy victory.
Edinburgh came charging back.
The Lancers started the second half aggressively and eventually tied the game in the fourth quarter, but Class A No. 10 Hauser was able to rebound and knock down their free throws late to seal a 59-50 Mid-Hoosier Conference girls basketball victory.
“We lost being aggressive in the fourth quarter of going to the basket when (Hauser was) in foul trouble,” Edinburgh coach Amy Schilling said. “We got a little frazzled, but I thought we played hard.”
The Jets (8-2, 4-0) were trailing 11-8 in the first quarter, but Taylor Henderson provided a huge spark off the bench. She contributed the first two baskets during the 15-0 run, and Tori Chandler scored the next eight points that included a nice steal and basket when Hauser started pressing full court. Ali Hoover capped the run with a 3-pointer.
“They pulled out in a zone, which has been our struggle this year,” said Henderson, who finished with 15 points. “We threw in our zone plays, and made it work on our own and created some new plays.”
In the second half, Edinburgh (4-8, 0-2) started turning up the defensive intensity. Schilling decided to put Bri Howard on Chandler after Chandler scored 16 first-half points. The planned worked, with Chandler scoring only six points, which were all at the free-throw line, late in the game.
“If we kept the ball out of (Chandler’s) hands, it was going to limit the scoring opportunities for them,” Schilling said. “I thought Bri did a good job defensively on her without fouling.”
Chandler finished with 22 points, including a perfect 10 for 10 from the line. Sarah Tedder added 11 points for the Jets.
Allie Schooler led the Lancers with 22 points. Bri Howard added nine.
Hauser struggled at the free-throw line most of the game, but during the final minutes of the fourth quarter, it went 11 for 11.
“Give Edinburgh credit — they are a tough team and never gave up,” Hauser coach Brad Hamilton said. “We did not give up either. Our press drove a lot of our scoring. Other kids stepped up and made plays with Tori on the bench for two-to-three minutes in the fourth quarter with four fouls.”
