Girls Basketball: Huron, Pioneer heading for big clash in SEC Red battle
This upcoming week is an interesting one – and possibly defining for some teams – in the highly competitive and talented girls’ basketball SEC Red Division. Two of the local teams are in play for the top of the division but they both have plenty of work to do to stay in the hunt. Yes, it’s that good and deep.
Four teams have a really good shot at the title and even Monroe sits at 5-5 overall on the season. Huron sits atop at the moment with a perfect 3-0 league mark and 10-2 overall record. So, let’s start there.
The River Rats are coming off a 54-13 win over Skyline on Friday. Huron got a chance to play everyone on the roster and were led in scoring by Khady Ba with 13 points. Mckenzie Maciejewski and Brooklynn Cooper each scored 11.
The River Rats have plenty of firepower and experience with the talented Smith sisters (Jadyn and Siena) and senior point guard Reeya Patel. Huron Coach Scott Hunter is pleased with how his team is playing heading into a tough week.
“We are playing hard right now and we are looking forward to this week,” he said.
Huron is at Saline on Tuesday and home vs. Pioneer on Friday as part of a girls-boys doubleheader. And this brings us back to the SEC Red standings.
Saline is 2-1 in the league and 10-1 overall. Pioneer is 1-2 in the league with both losses coming in close games, including Friday night’s double overtime loss to Bedford – more on that in a minute. The Kicking Mules are 2-1 and 6-5 overall with a solid team capable of beating anyone on any night.
Same goes for the Pioneers – a young team but one to watch moving forward.
On Friday night at Pioneer, the hosts led by two points late in regulation when they fouled Bedford standout Sophia Gray, who tied the game with a pair of free throws. Each team scored six points in the first overtime. But Gray came up big in the second OT and the Kicking Mules outscored the Pioneers 13-5 to pull off a 59-53 win.
Gray scored six of her team-high 15 points in overtime.
Pioneer’s Alexis Clark had a huge game for the home team. The sophomore had a game-high 19 points before fouling out. Sophomore Lauren DeWolf scored five her 12 points in the fourth quarter and Mya Hicks and Felicia Stewart each scored eight points for the Pioneers.
Pioneer’s starting five features four sophomores and a senior and they could be a very dangerous team in the second half and the playoffs.
Pioneer hosts Monroe at 7 p.m. on Tuesday before Friday’s showdown at Huron.
