BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
At the end of the 2022-2023 season, the prospect of the Exeter girls basketball team playing for a district championship was not on many’s minds — yet, 45 games removed from snapping a 60-game losing streak, that’s just what the Lady Tigers did on Saturday.
In Verona, Exeter (12-15) took on Hurley (19-9), falling 48-29 but feeling blessed to have even had a shot.
“We were too nervous and beat ourselves in the first half,” said Jennifer Young, Exeter girls basketball coach in her second year. “We finally started playing in the fourth quarter, but we had too much ground to make up.
“We surpassed every goal we set for ourselves, and we were just thankful to be in this position.”
Both teams struggled with holding onto the ball all game, and a turnover-riddled first quarter ended with Hurley on top, 10-2.
The Lady Tigers’ biggest run in the first half came with about 2:35 to play, when Shea Hilburn turned two steals into 4 points and added a put-back to pull within two possessions, a scoreline that held to halftime.
After the break, Hurley ripped off 8 straight points and took a 29-13 lead into the final frame. Hilburn had provided all the Lady Tigers’ points through three, and in the fourth, Breely Willis scored a field goal and a 3-pointer, Honesty Hall added 2, Jaylee Hawkins hit a 3-pointer, and Beatriz Alcaraz put in a pair. Hilburn finished the game with 17 points.
Throughout the final quarter, Hurley kept the lead fresh and never trailed by less than 13.
Young said along with meeting their season goals and playing for a title, the Lady Tigers are excited to have all its championship lineup back next year, as seniors Trinity Atkinson and Dawnee Sorensen were not available to play.
“Two seniors did not play, and that did affect us because our defense would have been better,” Young said. “But, I think this sets us up to win more next year. Our goal this year was 12, and we got them, so next year, we already want 15. We also have two eighth-graders that will be in the mix next year as freshmen.”
Young said despite trailing all game, her Lady Tigers showed resolve.
“This game showed we have heart,” she said. “We played the whole game and never gave up, and that shows a lot about this team.”
To reach the Class 1, District 3 championship, Exeter defeated School of the Ozarks, 50-40, and Verona, 63-57.
