The South Hardin girls basketball team defeated NICL-West rival AGWSR for the first time since 2015, ending a 20 game losing streak to the Cougars, with a 59-49 win in a Class 2A Region 4 quarterfinal on Tuesday, as aired on 104.9 KLMJ.
In the first, South Hardin opened the game with a 7-0 run. AGWSR tied the game at 11 with two minutes to go and took a 17-16 by the quarters end. With the game tied at 22-22 in the second, the Tigers went on a 9-2 run to go up 31-24. A buzzer-beating triple by Trevyn Smith of AGWSR, cut the Tigers lead to 31-27 at the half. The Tigers increased their advantage to double figures in the third quarter with an 11-4 scoring run to go up 42-31. In a back and forth final quarter, AGWSR cut their deficit back to single digits but the Tigers denied the Cougars from getting any closer than within eight points to earn the road playoff win.
South Hardin Head Coach Nick Eller on how the whole team stepped in a win or go home spot.
“We executed the game plan really well and did a good job of shutting down Smith and Kuper, who are really good players. It’s a great team effort, so I’m proud of the whole group. The people we needed to play the way they do, did, and that was Ali and Ayda and Ava Salvo and Grace and Alyssa Kix, just that whole group there. It’s been kind of a combo for a long time and they really did their job and played well,” says Eller. “Then our bench came off and gave us some great minutes too. Just team effort and we wanted it more. There’s been many times we’ve come here and played right with them, I thought they wanted a little bit more. Tonight we did, so that was fun to see.”
Four Tigers finished in double figures scoring including Alli Sheldahl with 20, Ayda Eller with 12, Alyssa Kix with 12 and Ava Salvo added 10 for the Tigers.
AGWSR Head Coach David Koop on how the team left it all out on the floor.
“They really brought out that first punch and we we responded well. We played our hearts out. Before the game and at halftime, talking with the girls, we’re either going to get a really close, hard-fought win tonight, or we’re going to come in the locker room after, and I’m going to tell you guys that we left it all on the court tonight. I thought we did that,” says Koop. “We didn’t quite hit the shots that we’ve hit in close games this year. We really battled hard. That third quarter was really tough, I think we only scored four or five points. We didn’t quit in the fourth quarter until the end. That’s all I can ask from the girls and couldn’t ask for a better season.”
Trevyn Smith had 20 points and Josie Kuper had 10 points in their final game as Cougars.
AGWSR concludes their season at 14-9. South Hardin at 10-13 will travel to Pocahontas Area for a regional semifinal on Friday.
South Hardin Head Coach Nick Eller:
South Hardin Senior Alli Sheldahl:
AGWSR Head Coach David Koop:
