Author photo

By Candie Fix
Managing Editor 

Haxtun snags 2-point win in Otis; preps for 3rd contest with Dragons

 

January 25, 2023

(Herald photo by Candie Fix)

HAXTUN LADY BULLDOG senior Grace Gibson looks for an open teammate in a contest at Haxtun two weeks ago.

With just six games left on the regular season schedule, the Haxtun Lady Bulldogs are looking to play their best ball by the time post-season nears and it seems they are doing just that.

Haxtun went 1-1 this weekend, falling in a close contest to Sedgwick County on Friday but bouncing back for a win in Otis on Saturday.

Haxtun took the hardwood in Julesburg on Friday night in a contest with fellow Lower Platte League opponent Sedgwick County. The Lady Cougars hold a top-five spot in League standings according to MaxPreps.

The home team put three more points on the board than the Lady Bulldogs in the first quarter for a 12-9 advantage early in the contest but Haxtun was prepared to battle. Four more points on the board before half time left the score 19-13 with the Lady Cougars ahead at the half.

Whatever Head Coach Alicia Schram told her team at half time lit a spark in the Lady Bulldog offense as the team racked up 16 points in the third and 11 in the fourth in Haxtun's battle for a win. Despite late-game efforts the Lady Bulldogs fell by a six-point margin, 46-40.

"We told the girls going into that game that they were going to have to play with their hearts. That if they did that, things would fall into place," Schram said of her team's performance on Friday. "We are one of those teams that can be hard to guard. Teams come in with a game plan to guard our inside game because that's where we are typically the strongest. Then our outside shooters give us four three-point shots. Our opponents are forced to change their defensive game plan on the fly. We can be deadly because you just don't know how we will strike."

Junior Cassidy Goddard put 11 points on the board Friday night, she earned those off five two-point shots and one free throw. Emily Anderson and Bobbi Starkebaum each added nine points. Starkebaum nailed three two-pointers and sunk three shots at the charity stripe. Anderson hit three shots from the outside to earn her nine points.

Starkebaum led under the basket with 15 rebounds. She nabbed seven on offense and eight on defense. Goddard pulled down nine rebounds, one on offense and eight on the other end of the court.

Samantha Seger, Starkebaum and Kelsie Hadeen each tallied three assists. Hadeen led in steals with two.

"I was so proud of the way that the girls played on Friday. It was a huge league match-up. Mother Nature threw us a curve ball on Wednesday and Thursday so we have weren't able to prep much for the game. The girls still found a way. That's grit," Schram said.

The next night, Haxtun etched out a two-point win on the road in Otis. The Lady Bulldogs trailed by four at the end of the first quarter and matched the home team for 11 points in the second to end the first half 20-16, Otis with the lead.

Haxtun outscored Otis by one in the third to narrow in on the lead and in the fourth put up an impressive 12 points while holding the home team to seven to claim the 36-34 win.

"Otis wasn't a pretty win, but we got it done," said Schram. "The girls left everything they had out on the court in Sedgwick County. It shows a lot about those girls - they continue to throw everything they have at it, even when they don't have much left to give."

Goddard led her team in scoring for the second consecutive night, this time putting up 13 points. She connected with five shots inside the paint and made three free throws. Starkebaum tallied eight points off two two-point shots and four shots from the free-throw line. Grace Gibson registered four points.

Under the hoop, Goddard pulled down two offensive rebounds and seven defensive rebounds to lead her team with nine. Starkebaum registered eight rebounds followed by Cassidy Goodwin with six and Anderson with four.

Hadeen and Anderson each accounted for three assists. Anderson also had two steals.

This week the Lady Bulldogs will face off with Holyoke for the third time this season. Due to damage to their hardwood floor, the Lady Dragons will host the contest at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling on Friday night.

Saturday the team is set to travel to Dalton, Neb. for a match up with the Leyton Lady Warriors.

From there, the team has five regular season games left on the schedule.

"We started this season in a valley with what seemed like an infinite amount of obstacles. They've made some amazing headway. As a team, you hope to be playing your best ball come postseason time," Schram said. "I hope the girls have taken in the view during the climb up the mountain. We are right there."

 

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