On fire Lady Hawks win pair of tourneys
DAYTON — Closing out 2022 on fire, the Hardin Valley Academy girls basketball team won tournaments at Anderson County and Rhea County high schools on consecutive weeks, going 7-0 in the process.
“In both tournaments, with it being the holidays, you’ve got some people gone — and we had some injuries. But we played really hard defense, really focused defense in both tournaments,” HVA head coach Jennifer Galloway said.
A 54-45 victory versus Clarkrange in the championship game gave Galloway’s Lady Hawks (12-5 overall record starting this week) the Anderson County tourney title in Clinton Thursday, Dec. 22, led by junior wing Gracie Waite’s game-high 25 points. Kamiyah Love, sophomore post, added 11 for the champs.
Hardin Valley finished 3-0 in that tournament.
4-0 champs at Rhea County
Next came a trip to Dayton last week, as the Lady Hawks finished 4-0 in the Rhea County tournament, capped by defeating the host RCHS Lady Eagles 57-53. Lexi Hall, senior wing, led the champs scoring-wise in this title game with 15 points. Kyndra West, sophomore point guard, added 10 points, as did Lily Adkisson.
Winning the Rhea County tourney semifinal in dramatic fashion, Hardin Valley edged Pickett County 56-54 after a West steal-turned-lay-up just before the final buzzer sounded provided the winning margin.
West, in fact, was named tournament Most Valuable Player, while Waite, Love and Kamryn Butcher, sophomore guard, were All-Tournament selections.
Strong end to 2022
Adding a win at Campbell County Friday, Dec. 16, that didn’t involve tournament play gave the Lady Hawks eight straight victories to close out 2022.
