Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn rallied in the fourth quarter to slip past Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn 45-42 January 20 at Sanborn. Weather had forced postponement of the game which was originally scheduled for January 12. The victory extended the Hawks winning streak to six games as they improved to 4-3 in the War Eagle Conference and to 10-5 overall.
HMS trailed by 12 points early in the fourth quarter. Four baskets by Abby Douma and two more by Gracie Knobloch helped the Hawks to tie the score at 38-all with three minutes remaining. Knobloch scored with a minute left to put HMS in front 43-41. The Royals made one of two free throws to draw within a point. A pair of missed free throws by the Hawks gave MMCRU a chance to re-take the lead. Moriah Otto had other ideas, making a steal and converting two free throws to give HMS a 45-42 lead with 12 seconds left. The Royals missed a tying three and the ball went out of bounds to the Hawks. MMCRU did not foul on the inbound and the Hawks had their three-point victory.
Douma finished with 18 points and Knobloch 10. Kylee Schiphoff added eight points, Otto five and Frankie Mohni and Eliza Tewes two each. The assists leaders were Knobloch with four and Mohni with three. Douma claimed nine rebounds, Schiphoff seven and Otto six. Mohni topped the steals column with three but close behind were Knobloch, Schiphoff and Otto at two apiece. Douma blocked five shots.
HMS made 15 of its 47 field goal tries to shoot 32 percent. The Hawks went just 2-for-21 from three-point range but were 13-of-18 at the charity stripe. They were guilty of 19 turnovers.
MMCRU 12 8 10 12 – 42
HMS 13 6 4 22 – 45