MHEA Varsity Girls National Basketball Champions!
What a game! The MHEA varsity girls beat the Oklahoma City Storm by a score of 58-54 for the 2017 Varsity Girls Undisputed Homeschool Championship, avenging an earlier season loss to the Storm at the Homeschool Tip-off Championship. At Tipoff in November, the OKC Storm were missing two of their top players (6'1" Chantae Embry and 6' Raelene Eddens); since they were back in the lineup for the championship, this game was an even bigger win for MHEA.
“No one really saw this one coming. The Storm was such a heavy favorite this year because they had such a talented team and deep bench,” said Coach Tracy Rice. MHEA had also been struggling with injuries; junior guard Ashley Carson was out for the season with an ACL injury. Then 3 weeks before Nationals, point guard Gigi Lewis had a severe ankle injury. Praise
God, Gigi was cleared to play 3 days before Nationals!
MHEA started off the game strong and was tied 14-14 at the end of the first quarter. “We began to struggle in the second quarter when they switched to an extended zone. They are so tall and athletic that it was tough to move the ball, because they can cover so much ground,” said Coach Rice. MHEA was down 26-34 at the half. In the second half MHEA started off with a bang; Lindsey Vaughn hit three deep NBA-range three-pointers, and Kylie Loadholt hit another 3 to get MHEA back in the game. It was tied at 42-42 at the end of the third quarter. Another injury occurred in that quarter, as Catie Shoemaker went down with a knee injury and was out for the rest of the game. “She was our only senior; so, the girls really wanted to win this game for her,” said Coach Rice.
It was a back-and-forth game the whole fourth quarter. Annaliese Burnett was clutch in the last 4 minutes, scoring 8 of her 15 points. The play of the game was when Gigi Lewis got her own rebound after missing a free throw with 24 seconds left, and then found Lindsey Vaughn cutting to the basket for a layup to put MHEA up by 3 points. OKC missed a free throw on their next possession, and Annaliese Burnett was fouled on the rebound. She made a free throw to put MHEA up by 4 and sealed the game with 7 seconds left; MHEA went on to win 58-54. The MHEA fans stormed the court at Missouri State. “It was like a dream! I was so proud of how each of our players stepped up to make plays at certain points in the game. It was definitely the game of our lives, and we knew that was what it would take to win,” said Coach Rice. MHEA was led by Lindsey Vaughn with 28 points, Annaliese Burnett with 15 points, Gigi Lewis with 8 points, and Kylie Loadholt with 7 points. Congratulations, ladies!!!
“No one really saw this one coming. The Storm was such a heavy favorite this year because they had such a talented team and deep bench,” said Coach Tracy Rice. MHEA had also been struggling with injuries; junior guard Ashley Carson was out for the season with an ACL injury. Then 3 weeks before Nationals, point guard Gigi Lewis had a severe ankle injury. Praise
God, Gigi was cleared to play 3 days before Nationals!
MHEA started off the game strong and was tied 14-14 at the end of the first quarter. “We began to struggle in the second quarter when they switched to an extended zone. They are so tall and athletic that it was tough to move the ball, because they can cover so much ground,” said Coach Rice. MHEA was down 26-34 at the half. In the second half MHEA started off with a bang; Lindsey Vaughn hit three deep NBA-range three-pointers, and Kylie Loadholt hit another 3 to get MHEA back in the game. It was tied at 42-42 at the end of the third quarter. Another injury occurred in that quarter, as Catie Shoemaker went down with a knee injury and was out for the rest of the game. “She was our only senior; so, the girls really wanted to win this game for her,” said Coach Rice.
It was a back-and-forth game the whole fourth quarter. Annaliese Burnett was clutch in the last 4 minutes, scoring 8 of her 15 points. The play of the game was when Gigi Lewis got her own rebound after missing a free throw with 24 seconds left, and then found Lindsey Vaughn cutting to the basket for a layup to put MHEA up by 3 points. OKC missed a free throw on their next possession, and Annaliese Burnett was fouled on the rebound. She made a free throw to put MHEA up by 4 and sealed the game with 7 seconds left; MHEA went on to win 58-54. The MHEA fans stormed the court at Missouri State. “It was like a dream! I was so proud of how each of our players stepped up to make plays at certain points in the game. It was definitely the game of our lives, and we knew that was what it would take to win,” said Coach Rice. MHEA was led by Lindsey Vaughn with 28 points, Annaliese Burnett with 15 points, Gigi Lewis with 8 points, and Kylie Loadholt with 7 points. Congratulations, ladies!!!