Lady Knights finish off Salado at free-throw line
Posted On: Wednesday, Nov. 25 2009 05:10 AM
By Alex Byington
Killeen Daily HeraldHARKER HEIGHTS – Despite a big game from Salado junior Hadley Joiner, the Harker Heights girls basketball team hit its last six free throws to hold off a late Lady Eagle rally to win 53-47 Tuesday night at Knights Gym.
"It was tough, it was very tough to watch in moments and time from time," said second-year Heights' coach Shirretha Nelson. "But then we had sparks ... hopefully it's that balance that we're getting. We just need to put that balance together."
Powered by the sharp-shooting of Joiner, who finished with a game-high 24 points – most of which came courtesy of a 6-of-8 from behind the arch – the Class 2A Lady Eagles (3-2) appeared on the edge of major upset over the Class 5A Lady Knights (2-3).
"Hadley's definitely in a class by herself as far as the players, and we were going to ride that horse," joked first-year Salado coach Jeanette McKinney. "But I told the girls in the locker room, I'm proud of them. For a 2A school to come in and play a 5A, and fight the way we did, I'm proud to be associated with them.
But just a minute after Joiner's sixth consecutive trey put Salado ahead 43-42 for the Lady Eagles' second lead of the game, the Heights' Shanice Davis – who led the way with 20 points – closed the door on the Lady Eagles, stealing the ball from Joiner at midcourt and scoring on an uncontested layup to tie the game at 45-45 with 3:20 remaining in the game.
After both teams traded easy buckets, the Lady Knights locked up the victory thanks to their solid work at the charity stripe, finishing 13-of-15 including 6-of-6 over the final two minutes.