Hardwood Heroes
Alexander leaves 1-21 season in the rearview with a huge playoff win over Huntington
By: Maddie Kiefer
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WAVERLY, Ohio (WOUB)- The Alexander Spartans traveled to Waverly for their first playoff game of the season, where they won 55-48.
Last season this Spartans team went 1-21 but had hope for the future with their young squad. After a successful season going 14-8, it was going to be no easy task to win against the 16-6 Huntington Huntsmen.
The game started with a barrage of threes mostly contributed by Allie Baker of Huntington and Kayden Bean of Alexander. After the first quarter and the three point fest, the Spartans narrowly led 14-15.
The Huntsmen came out strong in the second quarter creating some space between them and the Spartans. Alexander did not give up though and had a burst of energy to end the quarter causing the teams to be knotted up at 23-23.
In the third, everytime Huntington started to pull away, Alexander found a way to pull themselves back in. Kaylee Hudnall was a ballhawk, constantly reading passes and yanking them away for Spartan points. The third quarter ended 38-37 and proved that this game was a showdown.
The fourth quarter was all Alexander as Hudnall lit up the floor. The Huntsmen were left to foul the Spartans but it was too late, Alexander took this one 55-48 and Hundall ended with twenty points.
When asked about how it feels to go from a losing season to winning a playoff game, Spartans head coach Morgan Grinstead said, “It’s huge for our program, it’s a step in the right direction, and that’s what we wanted. We wanted to prove people wrong this season and I think we’ve done a great job so far.”
Alexander looks to continue their dominance against number three seed, Portsmouth West, next Saturday.