The South Hardin girls basketball team achieved double-digits wins for the first time in 10 seasons at 10-14. The Tigers’ last double-digit win season was the 2015-16 season, in which they went 14-8.
Head Coach Nick Eller on the steady progression of the team through ups and downs.
“Super proud of the way the girls finished playing. Playing our best basketball, definitely the last three weeks of the season. That was, kind of our goal year long. When we were having some of those rough weeks, they just keep chipping away and kept working towards that final goal,” says Eller. “I thought the girls did a great job. They didn’t throw the towel in. They easily could have a couple times throughout the year, where there was some tough stretches and some losing streaks, but just kept chipping away. It kept getting better. I saw us getting better each week, even in the losses sometimes. That’s hard for people on the outside to understand or see sometimes, but I really did see that.”
The Tigers won five of their final eight games, including their first win over AGWSR since 2015 in a 2A regional quarterfinal. The season came to a close with a loss to Pocahontas Area in a regional semifinal.
The Tigers graduate four seniors, including Grace Eller, Alyssa Kix, Ava Salvo and Alli Sheldahl.
Eller on their commitment and connection with them since youth basketball.
“Tons of hours and days of just commitment and work. Van rides and bus rides to all the different things they’ve been to. Could not be prouder of all the time they’ve put in, to commit to the program and take us to, a spot where we’ve never been. They ended it on as high a note as they could leave it on, so that’s pretty cool for them. Gonna miss them dearly. I got a daughter in there, but I really think of all four of them as my own. I always have because I’ve gotten to coach them since third grade. When they started their career and got to finish coaching them at the end of their career, that’s pretty cool. Something I’m blessed to get to do. Definitely a bummer and definitely gonna be hard to see them go. They’re ready, for the next step and that’s fun to see too. Proud of everything they’ve done for the program.”
Sheldahl set the new program career scoring record with 1,021 points and led the team in rebounds with 144. Kix led the team with 38 three-pointers this season. Salvo ended the year with the highest field goal percentage on the team at 43.8 percent and was second in rebounds with 134. Eller helped keep the offense moving as the third leading scorer this season with 170 points.
The Tigers are projected to return 10 players for next season.
