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The Hills-Beaver Creek girls’ basketball team played two gritty games this week at home.
The Patriots lost to Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 54-33, Tuesday, Nov. 29, and regrouped to take down Edgerton at home 60-55 Friday, Dec. 2.
The H-BC girls were scheduled to play Murray County Central at home Tuesday, Dec. 6, and take on Adrian-Ellsworth Friday, Dec. 9, in Adrian.
H-BC 60, Edgerton 55
The Lady Patriots posted their first team win this season against Edgerton High School Friday, Dec. 2.
H-BC coach Dylan Gehrke described the contest as a game of two halves.
“Edgerton is a very physical and tough squad,” Gehrke said.
“Their press gave us some troubles throughout the first half, and the girls could not get anything to drop in.”
He said the Patriots dug themselves into a 14-point deficit at halftime, 24-10, but told the girls, “We need to stick together and grind this game out.”
The Patriots started to get some shots to fall in the second half.
Juniors Layla Deelstra and Lanae Elbers led the charge, helping the Patriots trim the deficit and take the lead.
H-BC scored 50 second-half points, shooting 53 percent from the field and making 17 of 22 at the free throw line.
Four Patriots girls ended the game in double digits. Abbie Harris and Olivia Deelstra posted 15 points, Layla Deelstra made 13, Lanae Elbers contributed 12 and Brynn Rauk added another five points.
Rauk also grabbed nine rebounds and four steals. Harris was 6 for 6 at the free-throw line.
H-BC 33, RTR 54
The H-BC girls’ basketball team hosted RTR for their home opener Tuesday, Nov. 29.
H-BC played tough but found themselves behind early 28-9 to end the first half.
“We battled throughout most of the first half. It was 16-9 and RTR ended up going on a 12-0 run to end the half,” Gehrke said, adding that H-BC had ample shot opportunities throughout the game but couldn’t get them to drop.
“Props to our girls for continuing to fight,” he said.
In the second half H-BC cut the lead to 15 with a chance at a scoring run but couldn’t capitalize on the momentum.
The Patriots played with RTR during the second half, 24-26, but ended up losing 54-33 in the final minutes of the game.
Gehrke said he was pleased with his team’s performance and strong second half play.
“We just need to work on putting two halves together,” he said.
Elbers led the Patriots with a total of nine points, nine rebounds, two steals and five blocked shots.
Defensively, Olivia Deelstra helped out with 11 total rebounds, one steal and two blocked shots.