Hauser’s Norah Berkenstock works against Brown County’s Zoe Jackson at Hauser, Tuesday, November 12, 2024.
Paige Grider | For The Republic
HOPE — When Hauser opened the season with a loss Friday at Edinburgh, the Jets were plagued by turnovers and giving up offensive rebounds.
Tuesday night, the Jets remedied those problems. They cut their turnovers almost in half and dominated the defensive glass in posting their first win of the season, a 48-30 victory against Brown County.
“Some of of our keys are always taking care of the basketball and defensive rebounding,” Hauser coach Kyle Shipp said. “Those are two things that we circle every game, and those are two of the things that we did tonight. We didn’t allow offensive rebounds, we got some easy baskets in transition. It makes it easy basketball when you can get some stops and defensive rebounds to get your break going.”
The other key was staying out of foul trouble. Four Jets fouled out of Friday’s opener, including leading returning scorer and senior point guard Norah Berkenstock. On Tuesday, Berkenstock scored 13 of her team-high 16 points in the first half.
“I think that was some growth,” Shipp said. “Norah did a really good job keeping herself on the floor. We did get Kennedy (Konradi) with two quick ones there, but we were able to weather that storm.”
“I think it was a big difference,” added Hauser sophomore Aleigha Wickliffe, who scored 10 points. “Our girls normally get in foul trouble, and this time we stayed out, and it helped.”
Ava Stogsdill scored Brown County’s first eight points, giving the Eagles (1-2) an 8-7 lead late in the first quarter. But the Jets (1-1) outscored them 24-7 the rest of the half to take a 31-15 lead.
“I just really like the way that our second quarter, how we played, how we got contributions from several people and how Norah kind of led the ship for us a little bit,” Shipp said.
Hauser hit seven 3-pointers as a team.
“I think that working as a team and really moving the ball and passing it to the paint and then out to the 3-point line really helped us,” Berkenstock said.
“I think we came out with a lot of good energy,” Brown County coach Bob Susemichel said. “We don’t go deep on our bench, so people get tired. Hauser is a good team, and they started hitting outside shots, and I think that kind of deflated us a little bit.”
June Berkenstock grabbed nine rebounds, and Haven Hartwell added eight rebounds to lead the Jets to a 38-30 advantage on the boards.
“I think we had really good energy, and we came out strong,” Wickliffe said. “We didn’t fold, and we stayed strong the whole game.”
Stogsdill finished with a game-high 19 points to lead the Eagles, while Zoe Jackson added seven points. Michaela Smith grabbed 10 rebounds, and Chloe Poling added eight rebounds.
“It’s a young team,” Susemichel said. “They’re learning every day. They’re learning to play with each other. They’re really starting to understand and play together.”
Susemichel credited his team’s improvement from Saturday’s 69-17 loss at Southwestern (Hanover).
“We were lights-out better,” Susemichel said. “The kids had more energy, knowing their assignments. We didn’t get off to a good start, but they didn’t fold early. Saturday, we folded early. They played hard through it and got back into it, and that to me is a win for us.”
Hauser 48, Brown County 30
Brown County;10;5;7;8;—;30
Hauser;11;20;10;7;—;48
Brown County (1-2): Ava Stogsdill 8 3-9 19, Piper Silbaugh 0 0-0 0, Allison Blee 0 0-0 0, Michaela Smith 1 0-0 2, Neka Nabors 0 0-0 0, Zoe Jackson 3 1-2 7, Chloe Poling 0 2-2 2. Totals: 12 6-13 30.
Hauser (1-1): Kaydenze Brock 0 1-2 1, June Berkenstock 2 0-1 4, Norah Berkenstock 3 8-9 16, Braelyn Williams 2 0-0 6, Kennedy Konradi 2 0-0 5, Aleigha Wickliffe 4 0-4 10, Willa Wetzel 0 1-2 1, Abby Manley 2 0-0 4, Haven Hartwell 0 1-2 1, Leah Manley 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 11-20 48.
3-point goals: Brown County 0; Hauser 7 (N. Berkenstock 2, WIlliams 2, Wickliffe 2, Konradi).
