WALDRON — Hauser built itself a comfortable lead early in the second half and had all the momentum on its side.
Rising Sun decided to change course.
The Shiners went on a big fourth-quarter run and finished the game outscoring the Jets 20-5 to hand them a 61-49 season-ending loss in Wednesday’s girls sectional opener at Waldron.
To start the second half, Hannah Taylor hit back-to-back 3-pointers to help kick start a 10-2 run to give Hauser (8-15) its largest lead of the game at 31-22. Rising Sun (5-16) slowly climbed back to cut it to 37-35 until a 3-pointer from Maddi Wilson gave the Shiners the go-ahead lead 38-37. Hannah Johnson then hit a mid-range jumper to put the Jets ahead 39-38 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Shiners went ahead 41-39 early in the fourth quarter, but Taylor banked in a 3-pointer from the right wing to put Hauser back ahead 42-41. Johnson connected on two free throws to extend the lead to 44-41, setting up the Shiners final run down the stretch.
“We got up nine points, and I’m like, ‘OK, we’ve got the momentum, let’s keep it going,’ and then we turn it right around and made mental mistakes,” Hauser coach Chad Evans said. “We talk about possessions all the time, and every possession is important and especially in a sectional basketball game … You’ve got to take care of the basketball, and we didn’t.
After the Jets built a 4-0 lead in the first quarter, it vanished with Rising Sun getting plenty of second chance opportunities to score eight straight points. Hauser then scored the final five points of the first quarter to take a 9-8 lead.
Most of the points scored came from the free-throw line in the second quarter. The Jets went 4 of 4 from the line, and the Shiners went 6 of 8 from the line in the period. Rising Sun led 19-16 until a 3 from Aunaka Wasil tied the game. After the Shiners converted 1 of 2 from the line to take a 20-19 lead, a basket from Kyliegh Parrott gave Hauser a 21-20 lead at the break.
Taylor led the Jets with 13 points, and Parrott finished with 11.
Evans appreciated his seniors and is optimistic about the program’s future.
“I want to say thanks to seniors Hannah Johnson, Aunaka Wasil and Marnie Schwartzkopf. They’re a part of what we’re trying to do in trying to build program, and they’re a part of it. I wish I had them as freshmen,” Evans said. “I really appreciate all their effort and hard work these last two years, especially. Going forward, we’re still young. We’ve got three sophomores, a junior and a freshman and we’ll probably have another freshman probably start next year. Tonight, I just wanted to appreciate the seniors and the senior parents, they’ve done a lot for the girls basketball program. We’re in the right direction.”
