Hardin Valley Defeats Rhea County 57-53 For Championship

12/30/22

Evensville, TN -- Hardin Valley Lady Hawks won the Rhea County Christmas Invitational Tournament with a hard fought 57-53 win over the home-standing Lady Eagles of Rhea County High School on 12/30/22. Hardin Valley and Rhea County played entirely different first quarters, as Hardin was hitting from long range and running the floor for a 20-6 first quarter lead. Lady Hawks hit four 3-point baskets in the quarter and Lady Eagles could not find the range, missing several in-close shots in the quarter. Second quarter saw the Lady Eagles begin to get in-sync and they cut into the Lady Hawk lead with a 17-11 advantage in the quarter to trail 31-23 at halftime. Hardin Valley had their largest lead at 26-9 early in the second quarter. Six different Lady Eagles scored in the second quarter.

In the third quarter, Ava Travis dominated as she worked well in the low post with a variety of moves. Travis had 8 points as the Lady Eagles won the quarter 11-9 and Hardin Valley's lead was 40-34. Travis hit a fast-break layup with 5:40 left in third to give Lady Eagles the lead in the game at 32-31, but Lady Hawks then went on an 11-2 run to finish the quarter.

In the 4th-quarter Lakyn Lockhart hit an elbow 3 to bring the Lady Eagles within 44-41. But Lexi Hall responded with her 5th 3-point make of the night and Lady Hawks came up with the steal and finish to push the lead to 49-41. But the Lady Eagles were not done yet as somebody forgot to guard to throw-in person on the inbounds play and Freshman Hattie Johnston found herself all-alone in the corners. Not only did Hattie hit the 3, but she also hit the free throw as the late charging defender sent Johnson to the floor. After the free-throw make, Rhea trailed 49-45 with 3:10 left on the clock. Ava Travis then took a charge and Rhea had the ball down by 4. On the next Lady Eagle possession, Freshman Jenna Burchard scored down -low to cut the Hardin lead to 49-47 with 2:40 left in the game. Ava Travis hit a free-throw to give the Lady Eagles the lead 51-50, after her basketball put the Lady Eagles even at 50-50 with 1:33 left on the clock.

Lily Adkisson put Hardin up 54-51 with corner 3 with 1;11 left in game. Hattie Johnston hit a baseline runner to cut the lead to 55-53 but time was short and Lady Eagles were forced to foul with .8 seconds left in game. Kyndra West hit both her free tosses to give the final 57-53 margin for Hardin Valley Academy.

Hardin Valley Scorers: Lexi Hall 15, Kyndra West 10, Lily Adkisson 9, Kamiyah Love 6, Ava Claire Wrather 5, Gracie Waite 5, Kaitlyn Friedrich 3, Kamryn Butcher 3,

Rhea County Scorers: Hattie Johnston 13, Ava Travis 17, Hayla Patton 9, Kylie Garrison 3, Jenna Burchard 3, Cammie Ruehling 2, Summer Jenkins 1.

Hardin Valley All-Tournament: Kyndra West(MVP), Kamiyah Love, Kamryn Butcher, Gracie Waite