Hornettes Drop Two Straight

By Brent Huelsmann

The Nashville Hornettes girls basketball team, after winning their first four games of the season, dropped two heartbreakers on the road this week, as they lost to Anna-Jonesboro in double overtime, and suffered a one point loss to Okawville on December 3. The Hornettes record now stands at 4-2. Nashville's next game is Thursday night against Herrin. The Hornettes also play Saturday afternoon at home against Benton. The time for the game has been changed due to ACT testing. The Varsity game will now immediately follow the JV game, which begins at 1:00 p.m.

The Hornettes got the conference schedule started with a 45-39 loss in double overtime to Anna-Jonesboro. The loss was the first conference loss for the Hornettes since they lost to Carterville during the 2014-15 season.

The Hornettes started out strong in the game as the took a 9-2 lead after the first quarter. The Hornettes were able to build on that lead in the second, and took a 10 point lead into halftime. Coming out of the locker room, the Hornettes extended their lead in the third, and built a 12 point lead going into the fourth. In the fourth, Anna-Jonesboro came alive, and outscored Nashville 14-2 to force the game into overtime. In the first overtime period, the Hornettes had built a three point lead as time wound down, but Anna-Jonesboro would hit a long three pointer, to force a second overtime period. In the second overtime, the Lady Wildcats were able to pull away to defeat the Hornettes.

Paige Kasten and Janie Holle each led Nashville with 11 points in the game. Both Karly Stanowski and Rachael Kell each finished with six points for the Hornettes, while Libby Ahlers added five points in the loss.

The Hornettes next action was a rematch of the championship game of the Nashville Girls Basketball Thanksgiving Tournament. For the second time in a week, the Hornettes took on the Lady Rockets of Okawville. Another close game, this time the Lady Rockets were able to come out on top with a 32-31 victory.

Okawville gained the early advantage in the game, as they led 9-7 after the first quarter, the Lady Rockets were led in the first by Casean Tebbe who scored eight of the nine points for Okawville in the frame. The Lady Rockets were able to extend their lead as the teams headed to the locker room and led 17-13 at the break.

In the third, the Hornettes made an early run to take the lead 19-17 after a bucket by Holle, and four points from Stanowski in the early part of the half. Okawville would come right back with a three-point play from Madelyn Tepe to get Okawville back on top. A free throw by Ahlers tied the game at 20, but Okawville scored six of the final eight points to take a 26-22 lead into the final quarter.

In the fourth, Okawville continued to hold a narrow lead over their Washington County rival. The Hornettes would get a big quarter from Holle, as she scored the Hornettes first seven points of the quarter, and cut the Okawville lead to one point late in the going. After Stanowski put the Hornettes back on top with less than a minute to go, Okawville stayed calm, and Tepe hit two free throws with 11.1 seconds left to give the Lady Rockets the advantage. The Hornettes got three opportunities to win the game in a frantic final ten seconds but could not get the bucket, as Okawville took a one point win.

After the game, Hornettes coach Doug Althoff, talked about the game. “Just like I told them in there, sometimes you make them, sometimes you don't, and we couldn't ask for anything better. We had three cracks at it there at the end, and just couldn't get one to fall. Last time we played them we got one to fall. It's just the way it is. Effort was good. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't.”

The Hornettes were led by Stanowski with 15 points in the game. Holle added 11 points in the loss. Ahlers finished with five points to round out the scoring.

Paige Kasten dribbles down court, as she is guarded by Madelyn Tepe during the Hornettes 32-31 loss in a rematch of the championship game of the Nashville Girls Basketball Thanksgving Touranment.