Hamilton Heights’ Zoey Curry scored 17 points, including four 3-pointers, during the Huskies’ Thursday win over Bishop Chatard. (Richie Hall)
By RICHIE HALL
ARCADIA – Who says you can’t run from your fears?
Hamilton Heights girls basketball coach Erin Trimpe said her team “looked a little scared,” during the opening minutes of the Huskies’ home game with Bishop Chatard on Thursday. But after a timeout, the young Heights team used its speed, talent and remarkable balance to beat the Trojans 80-67.
The victory pulled the Huskies back above the .500 mark, while those 80 points were by far the most Heights has scored this season.
“We preached to them to be patient and everything’s going to come together,” said Trimpe. “And they just did a great job.”
Patience was necessary after Chatard got the Huskies down 12-4 midway through the first quarter. Heights worked its way back to a 20-20 tie by the end of the period. Freshman Zoey Curry threw in three 3-pointers during the Huskies’ run, with junior Kamryn Rhoton adding five points.
Rhoton drained a pair of triples early in the second period, which helped Heights keep pace with the Trojans during what would be a tight quarter. Bayleigh Eisele hit a jumper, then Riley Suarez made an and-1 late in the second to give the Huskies a 33-28 lead.
Chatard scored the last six points of the half for a 34-33 advantage at the break, then scored the first basket of the second half to lead by 36-33.
After that, Suarez took over. The 6-1 freshman is already getting notice from Division I schools, and she showed why by pouring in 18 points during the third quarter.
It wasn’t just the Riley Show, either. Freshman Addison Blum made two 3s in the third. Eisele added five points, while Curry drained her fourth triple of the game. Junior Abi Hilfiker made a free throw.
In all, Heights scored 33 points in the third quarter, doubling their halftime total for a 66-54 advantage over the Trojans.
“These girls have played together for such a long time,” said Trimpe. “They really know each other well. They played together through the AAU circuit, through middle school, so their chemistry is good. I asked them at one point, ‘What are you thinking is working on offense?’ And they’re able to look at me and be very decisive about what it is that they are comfortable out there running against an older team.”
Suarez finished with 28 points, scoring in every quarter, and five rebounds. She was one of five Huskies to reach double-digit points on Thursday.
Curry totaled 17 points on perfect field-goal shooting, as she was 6-of-6 from the field, including four 3s. Blum hit three 3s on her way to 13 points, Rhoton also nailed three 3s while scoring 11 points. Eisele had 10 points and also dished out six assists.
Heights is 3-2 and plays Saturday afternoon at Danville.
