Jr. Hornettes Advance To State
The Nashville Middle School Jr. Hornettes are back in the SIJHSAA State Tournament. The Jr. Hornettes defeated Fairfield in the Regional Championship game before defeating Goreville in the first round of the State Tournament. The Jr. Hornettes then fell to Okawville 41-30 in the Semi-Finals. Nashville will play for Third Place Friday night at 6 p.m.
The Jr. Hornettes advanced to the SIJHSAA Class M State Tournament for the fourth straight year with a 31-11 win over Fairfield on January 14. The Jr. Hornettes won the State Championship in 2018, got second place in 2017, and finished in third place in 2016.
Nashville started off strong as they led 8-2 after the first quarter of play. The Jr. Hornettes kept Fairfield off the scoreboard the rest of the first half, as they outscored Fairfield 7-0 in the second quarter to take a 15-2 lead into halftime. Fairfield had their best offensive quarter in the third, but could not cut into the Jr. Hornettes’ lead as Nashville outscored Fairfield 7-6 in the frame. At the end of the third, Nashville led 22-8. In the fourth, the Jr. Hornettes closed out a 31-11 win.
Daci Finke led a balanced scoring with eight points. Kendall Donato added seven points. Hope Liszewski, Taylor Birkner, and Emma Eberhart each finished with four points. Faith Frerker finished with two points. Korbi Rhine and Kinzie Klingeman each finished with one point.
The Jr. Hornettes first game of the State Tournament was a dominating 41-19 win over Goreville.
Nashville led 11-5 after the first quarter of play, and extended their lead to 22-10 at halftime. By the end of the third, the lead had swelled to 33-18. There would be no comeback in the fourth, as Nashville picked up a 41-19 win.
Rhine led the way with 14 points. Finke joined Rhine in double figures with 10 points. Frerker finished with eight points, followed by Eberhart with six points. Liszewski rounded out the scoring with three points.
