Ever so close

Despite having four players score in double figures and leading for three quarters of the game, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn lost in overtime to Gehlen Catholic, 62-59, on Dec. 20 in Hartley.

The bulk of H-M-S's scoring came from Kylee Schiphoff with 19 points, Gracie Knobloch with 14, Abby Douma with 12 and Emily Mutombo with 10. Eliza Tewes and Moriah Otto each added two points.

The Hawks opened the scoring and except for a 2-2 tie, led for the first 25 minutes of the game. H-M-S enjoyed an early 11-2 advantage and had a 17-9 lead after the first quarter. The Jays narrowed the deficit to 21-16 before H-M-S built it back to 10. The Hawks led 28-20 at the half time break.

Facing a 10-point deficit early in the second half, the Jays made consecutive three-pointers and scored again to close the gap to 34-30. Two more Gehlen Catholic baskets tied the score, and the teams traded leads throughout much of the fourth quarter.

The Hawks took a 43-41 lead with three minutes left in regulation, and held it until the Jays scored with 1:22 to play. In the closing minute, Gehlen Catholic missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity at the line and Douma made a free throw with eight seconds to play to tie the score at 48-48. The Jays had a chance to win with 2.4 seconds to play, but could not make either free throw, and the game went to overtime.

The teams traded leads throughout much of the extra period. H-M-S last led, 59-58, with 1:46 to play. The Jays went up by one with 13 seconds to play and after a Hawk turnover and foul, added two free throws. H-M-S's last-second three-point attempt was no good, and Gehlen Catholic escaped with the 62-59 win.

Knobloch grabbed 11 rebounds; Douma had nine rebounds, six blocks and three steals; Schiphoff had eight rebounds and three steals; Mutombo had five rebounds and five steals; Frankie Mohni had four rebounds and Elise Haack finished with three.

The Hawks made 18-of-46 shots from the floor and 21-of-27 free throws, while committing 35 turnovers.

• vs. Unity Christian

Unity Christian scored early and often against H-M-S, rolling to an 81-41 win on Dec. 20 at Orange City.

The Knights (3A No. 4) put up 27 points in the first quarter and 25 more in the second to build a 52-23 half time lead. Unity Christian added 20 points in the third quarter to extend the margin to 39.

Schiphoff was H-M-S's leading scorer with 19 points. Lindsey Van Es scored seven points, Haack scored five, Douma scored four, and Knobloch and Mohni added three each. H-M-S was 12-of-46 in shooting from the field (26.7 percent) and 13-of-19 at the foul line.

Schiphoff also paced H-M-S with nine rebounds and three assists, while Haack and Knobloch each grabbed four rebounds.

The Hawks (0-5, 0-2) resume action on Jan. 3 when they host Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire.