FRIDAY NIGHT FEB. 1, 2019- inside the Leopards’ Den, the Lions came out hungry. (Home team is Hernando High and Guest team- Hernando Christian Academy.) With 1.05 minutes left in the first quarter, the score was Hernando Leopards 10 and Hernando Christian Academy 13.
Onto the start of the second quarter. Back and forth both teams battling it out, the score is climbing on both sides of the scoreboard. Home 21 Guest 20, Home 24 Guest 22. Leopard freshman number 25 Tyana Jones passes the ball to Leopard junior number 5 Hayden Kimbrough for a 3-pointer. Lions defending their net against Leopards but Lions’ number 4 Sophomore Jada Norton and Lions’ number 10 senior Robin Jones received a foul against Leopards’ junior number 5 Hayden Kimbrough. Kimbrough received 2 free throws, 1 dropped through the net and second missed. With 26.5 seconds left in the second quarter, Lions’ number 20 junior Cassidy Coffman makes a 3-pointer bringing the second quarter to an end with Hernando 25 and Hernando Christian Academy 24. At halftime, the Lions go into the locker room and the Leopards stay on the court as coach Dominique speaks with her team. It’s Senior night for Hernando, there are three seniors on the team. Seniors 34 Kayla Greenen, 10 Taylyn Murwin, and 2 Nakayla Roberts. Congratulations from The Hernando Sun.
The start of the third quarter, tension rises. Coaches Hernando Dominique Jacobs shouts out plays while Hernando Christian Academy coach praises his team for their plays. The tempo of the game is at a high, with scores staying close. Fouls continue to rise against Hernando. Hernando’s number 24 Taliyah Dowdell pushes against Lions’ Senior number 3 Amelia Jackson giving Jackson 3 free throws, which Amelia makes the most of- cashing in all 3.
Hernando Leopard number 34 senior Kayln Greenen passes to Leopards’ number 10 senior Taylyn Murwin, Lions’ number 4 Jada Norton steals and takes it down the court, Leopards get the ball back and Lions get a foul against Leopards’ junior number 5 Hayden Kimbrough, score changes again with Kimbrough’s free throw shot.
Leopards’ junior number 5 Hayden Kimbrough is fouled after shoving Hernando Christian Academy’s number 15, Esther Jackson. HCA’s Esther Jackson receives 2 free throws and scores on both shots. One minute left in the third quarter- HHS Leopard number 2 Nakayla Roberts shoots for a 2-pointer. HCA’s number 10 Robin Jones and Leopards’ number 10 Taylyn Murwin go up against each other and Lions take the ball from the Leopards. Seconds before the end of quarter 3, number 25 Leopard Tyana Jones gets ready to shoot when the Lions steal the ball and takes it down the court as the buzzer goes off.
Hernando Christian Academy goes into the fourth quarter with 39 points against the Leopards’ 33 points. At the start of the fourth quarter, HCA takes control of the ball. HCA passes to Lions’ number 3 Amelia Jackson and Jackson scores. Five minutes left in the game, Leopard number 24 Taliyah Dowdell steals the ball from HCA and passes to teammate Nakayla Roberts who runs down the court shoots and scores. With 3.34 minutes left, the score is tied. 41 to 41. HHS is unable to complete on their shots and kept getting fouls called against them. HCA’s score continued to climb and they win the game. The final score was Hernando Leopards 46 against Hernando Christian Academy with 52 points.
