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One run enough for Heritage girls

By Daniel Maher/Correspondent

HAMPTON — Heritage’s girls basketball squad only played to its full potential during one period in Friday night’s 60-48 road victory over Bethel. But a 24-6 scoring advantage in the second quarter was enough to win.

Bethel slowly eroded the Hurricanes’ 36-18 halftime edge, but Heritage won comfortably, never letting the Bruins draw closer than the final margin.

The victory improved the Hurricanes to a 9-1 overall record — including a 7-0 district-leading mark — and allowed them to rebound from a loss to perennial Beach District power Princess Anne in their last game.

"We wanted to redeem ourselves and start the New Year right," said Hurricanes leading scorer Bonae Holston.

Holston scored 10 of the 19 straight points Heritage produced after stemming Bethel’s early momentum with a timeout three minutes prior to the end of the first quarter.

Bethel had opened a 12-4 lead on Amber Easter’s follow-up bucket. But after that, Heritage started pushing the ball inside and scored the final eight points of the quarter to forge a tie at 12.

Holston took over the lane in the second quarter, when foul trouble sent Bethel’s Lorri Smith to the bench for the whole period. Holston exploited the void for 12 points in the quarter, netting 19 of her game-high 21 points by halftime and grabbing all seven of her rebounds.

Hurricanes coach Michael Gardner described the decisive stretch as an indicator that Heritage adapted its game plan to the circumstances.

"I think we recognized what was working for us," Gardner said. "In the first quarter we were taking early shots, but in the second quarter we were smart and got a lot of easy shots for Bonae."

Heritage’s strong inside game also led to an imbalance in fouls, with the Hurricanes only being called for 13 compared to 22 for the Bruins. Three Bethel starters fouled out, and Heritage outscored Bethel 25-6 from the free-throw line.

"When you have three of your starters on the bench and they’re playing with a full deck, it’s hard to compete," said Bruins coach Mike Hagans. "They’re one of the district’s top teams and it’s tough to win if you don’t have any aces in your hand."

Heritage played carelessly after extending the lead to 52-27 late in the third quarter, helping Bethel (6-3, 4-2) keep the result respectable by turning the ball over 13 times in the second half.

Jessica Lewis scored eight points for the Bruins during a closing 21-8 spurt that produced the final 12-point margin.

Lewis and Easter paced the Bruins with 12 points each, while Sonia Johnson contributed 13 to join Holston in double figures for the Hurricanes.

HERITAGE 60, BETHEL 48

HERITAGE (9-1, 7-0): Robinson 5, Dickerson 5, Cannon 7, Lee 2, Hauser 4, Johnson 13, Holston 21, Thorpe 3. Totals 17 25-35 60.

BETHEL (6-3, 4-2): Lewis 12, Easter 12, Smith 6, Spencer 4, Carroll 8, Darden 6. Totals 20 6-11 48.

Heritage 12- 24- 16- 8 — 60
Bethel 12- 6- 13- 17 — 48

3-point goals — Heritage 1 (Robinson), Bethel 2 (Carroll 2). Total fouls — Heritage 13, Bethel 22. Fouled out — Easter, Smith, Spencer. Technical foul — Bethel coach. JV — Heritage 63-30.