By Derek Trepanier
For The Republic
GREENSBURG — In a scrappy battle Thursday night, the Hauser girls basketball team was able to tough out a 39-33 Mid-Hoosier Conference victory at South Decatur.
In what was a physical battle, the first half was a slow, foul-filled contest. The Jets entered the bonus with a minute left in the first quarter, leading 7-6. Two minutes into the second quarter, Hauser entered the double bonus.
The Cougars finished the first half with 14 team fouls, with the Jets attempting 16 of their 22 free throws in the first half.
“We have to keep our composure,” Hauser senior Sarah Tedder said. “We might as well just play through it.”
Tedder was a force down low for the Jets (2-6, 2-1), scoring eight points and grabbing 11 rebounds for Hauser, which took a 23-15 lead into the half.
South Decatur (1-10, 0-3) had many good looks at the basket, but were unable to convert many. The Cougars were able to get to the free throw line, however, converting on 11-of-17 attempts.
The second half found the teams battling back and forth. South Decatur outscored the Jets 8-6 in the third quarter to trail 29-23 heading into the fourth.
“I think the fact that they had to battle and really earn it was a real confidence boost,” Hauser coach Brad Hamilton said. “Pulling together and working as a team, and for the most part, we played pretty good defense.”
Taylor Best scored 11 points for the Cougars, while Annie Gant contributed seven. Battling fouls calls throughout the night and the loss of low post threat Sierra Lang due to injury in the first quarter, the Cougars struggled to find scoring.
“We just weren’t in our normal rotation. We just never offensively flowed well,” South Decatur coach Kelly Fox said. “We didn’t get the shots out of the offense where we are normally able to get them.”
Tessa Sims led the Jets with 10 points.
