Stumbling at the start

A slow start led to a loss in the opening game of 2025 for the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn girls' basketball team. The 62-51 loss to Unity Christian on Jan. 2 at Orange City ended the Hawks' four-game winning streak.

H-M-S fell behind 15-2 to open the game and trailed 25-11 at the end of the first quarter. The Hawks stepped up their offensive production in the second quarter to score 20 points, but could only narrow the deficit to seven and trailed 40-31 at half time.

Two baskets early in the second half pulled H-M-S to within six, but Unity Christian's 13-2 run pushed the lead up to 15 points. The Hawks could never get any closer than 11 points down the stretch.

Scoring totals for H-M-S were Kylee Schiphoff, 18 points; Abby Douma, 10; Gracie Knobloch, 9; Moriah Otto, 8; and Frankie Mohni, 6. H-M-S made 17-of-44 shots from the floor. The Hawks shot well at the free throw line, converting 11-of-13 attempts.

H-M-S was outrebounded by a 41-23 margin. Otto had seven rebounds and two steals; Douma had five rebounds along with eight blocks; Knobloch had five rebounds and three steals; and Schiphoff had four rebounds. Addy Sheeler contributed two rebounds and two assists, and Mohni also had two assists.

Unity Christian was led in scoring by Summer Schouten with 15 points, and Kortney Hofmeyer and Jaelye Woudstra with 11 each.

• Upcoming girls' and boys' schedules

West Sioux comes to H-M-S on Jan. 10. The JV girls and boys will play at 4:30 p.m. and the varsity boys' game will start at 6 p.m. West Sioux does not play a varsity girls' schedule.

The Hawk girls (7-3) and boys (1-7) will play at Sheldon on Jan. 13 and host Harris-Lake Park on Jan. 14.