What was a tight game at halftime, turned Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn’s way in the third quarter. The HMS boys outscored Harris-Lake Park by 12 in that third frame and went on to defeat the Wolves 62-50 in a War Eagle Conference game played February 9 at Lake Park. The victory allowed the Hawks to level their final conference record at 5-5, good for sixth place. They entered District tournament play with a season mark of 12-9.
HMS led the home team 31-27 at intermission. The Hawks scored 20 points over the next eight minutes while holding HLP to eight, taking a 51-35 lead into the fourth quarter. “We played a good second half and really stepped up defensively,” noted HMS head coach Mark Petersen.
The Wolves were held to 32 percent shooting for the game, making 17 baskets in 54 attempts. Over half of their field goals came from downtown as they were 10-of-26 from three-point range. HMS was 19-of-44 from the floor (43 percent), including 6-of-20 from beyond the arc. The Hawks toed the charity stripe 32 times, resulting in 18 made free
Only one HMS field goal came without the aid of an assist. Leading the way in that effort to facilitate was Kooper Ebel with eight assists. Notching two dimes apiece were Sam Heyn, Ben Haack, Lance Berends, Mason Brinkman and Jordan Ortega.
The Hawks got 18 points from Kayl Jacobsma, 14 from Berends, nine from Haack, eight from both Ebel and Heyn, three from Ortega and two from Keevyn Jacobsma. Coming away with one steal apiece were Ebel, Heyn, Berends and Ortega. HMS won despite losing the turnover battle 19-11.
Where the Hawks did come away with a clear-cut advantage was on the boards. HMS out-rebounded the Wolves 40-22. Most adept at cleaning the glass for HMS were Berends with 10 rebounds, Kayl Jacobsma with nine, Haack with six and Keevyn Jacobsma with four.
HMS 16 15 20 11 – 62
HLP 11 16 8 15 – 50