It’s not as if Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn didn’t play splendid basketball throughout its tournament opener against Trinity Christian. It’s just that HMS was particularly dominant in the second quarter. The Hawks posted 25 points in the quarter and held Trinity to just five. For all practical purposes, that effort sealed the victory for HMS, a victory that came by the final score of 77-42. The Class 1A District 1 quarterfinal was played February 15 at Hartley.
“It was a great performance all the way around for the kids,” remarked Hawk head coach Mark Petersen. “They played with a different intensity defensively. We were also very patient on the offensive end and got some great shots to be able to pull away in the second quarter.”
HMS held the Tigers to 27 percent shooting with 12 field goals in 44 attempts. By contrast, the Hawks made nearly half of their shots with 30 baskets in 61 tries. They were 10-of-25 from three-point land and 7-of-10 at the foul line. Trinity went 7-for-22 from beyond the arc and sank 11 of 16 free throw attempts.
The Hawks were led in scoring by Lance Berends with 19 points but he had plenty of help. Sam Heyn tallied 11 points while Ben Haack and Kayl Jacobsma each scored 10. Jordan Ortega added nine points, DJ Doyle six, Kooper Ebel five, Brenton Thomas three and Mason Brinkman and Dawson Schiphoff two apiece. Assist leaders were Berends with five, Brinkman with four and Ebel with three.
HMS owned the backboards, out-rebounding the Tigers 42-22. Berends pulled down 14 rebounds with Jacobsma grabbing six and Heyn and Haack each corralling five. Berends, Travis Kamradt and Keevyn Jacobsma each blocked a shot. Ebel and Ortega came away with two steals apiece to contribute to the Tigers’ 11 turnovers. The Hawks turned the ball over 12 times.
Trinity 15 5 12 10 – 42
HMS 20 25 18 14 – 77