Hawks fly high

The Chester-Joplin-Inverness Hawks and North Star Knights know each other well. They're separated by just a few miles, and players and coaches see each other often. So it was no surprise that the latest rivalry meeting between the Hawks and Knights would go right down to the wire.

Thursday afternoon, in the opening round of the District 9C girls basketball tournament, the Hawks outscored the Knights 16-8 in a spectacular fourth quarter, winning 42-36, and advancing to tonight's semifinal against top-seeded Box Elder.

"We do know each other well," CJI head coach Kristie Pulst said. "It's always a battle, but it's always fun, too. We have a lot of respect for North Star. They played really hard today. Both teams fought hard right to the end. So it's a fun win, and I'm really proud of my team."

The fourth-seeded Hawks and fifth-seeded Knights played a pair of close games during the regular season, and Thursday's 9C opener was no different. Chelsea Donaldson got North Star off to a strong start with six points in the first quarter, as the Knights led 9-6.

Back-to-back baskets from Donaldson and Kate Hansen to start the second would lift the Knights to a 13-6 advantage, but CJI would rally. And a 3-pointer from Peyton Hawks late in the half would give the Hawks a 18-17 lead at intermission.

Things only intensified from there.

Behind an early third-quarter bucket from Katelin Harvey, the Knights were back on top and led 28-26 heading into what would be a wild final eight minutes.

And CJI's Korrin Harmon would be a huge difference down the stretch.

Harmon opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer, giving the Hawks the lead back. From there, the two teams traded leads four times, until Hawks drilled her second three, and Harmon followed with an old-fashioned 3-point play. That left CJI leading 37-32 with 2:32 left.

North Star responded with four straight points from star junior Paij Peterson, but two points was as close as the Knights would get. Harmon grabbed a missed free throw and put it back in with :50 left, and then, Khloe Kamerzell sank three foul shots in the final :11 to seal the win, and keep the Hawks in the winner's bracket.

"I think executing in the fourth quarter was the biggest difference," Pulst said. "We made some important shots and made some big free throws - so that, and the fact that our kids fought hard for all four quarters. All year, this team never gives up. And that allows them to be in a position to win games in the fourth quarter. I'm just really proud of the way they never give up."

The 3-point line and the foul line were a major difference in the contest. The Hawks went 6-of-13 from beyond the arc, while the Knights were 0-for-8. At the charity stripe, both teams struggled, but in the fourth period, CJI made six foul shots, while North Star missed six critical free throws.

Kamerzell finished with 13 points for the Hawks, while Harmon added 10 and four rebounds. She also scored eight of her 10 in the final eight minutes. Hawks also hit three treys for CJI. North Star (9-10) which played Big Sandy on a loser-out game this morning, got 11 each from Donaldson and Peterson.

Now, the Hawks (13-6) move on from playing their biggest rival, to playing the best team in the 9C and one of the best in Class C in the unbeaten Box Elder Bears. That semifinal game tips today at 4, and while the challenge will be tall, Pulst and the Hawks will be ready for it.

"They're (Bears) a great team," Pulst said. "But we're going to play hard and give them a run. We want to come out and execute and play hard, and hopefully put ourselves in a position in the fourth quarter to where we could give them that first loss."

CJI 42, North Star 36

CJI 6 12 8 16 – 42

North Star 9 8 11 8 – 36

CJI – Kendahl Knapton 4, Korrin Harmon 10, Kayona Fraser 3, Samantha May 1, Khloe Kamerzell 13, Jasmine Cole 2, Peyton Hawks 9. Totals: 14-31 8-22 42.

North Star – Kate Hansen 4, Paij Peterson 11, Katelin Harvey 2, Chelsea Donaldson 11, Peytan King 6. Totals: 13-46 10-24 36.

3-pointers: Harmon 1, Fraser 1, Kamerzell 1, Hawks 3. Fouls: CJI 18, North Star 18. Fouled out: Harmon, Hansen.