The Hutto Hippos varsity girls’ basketball team won their first two district games of the season and evened up their record at 2-2.
After a 0-2 start to district play, the Lady Hippos defeated the Temple Wildcats and the Copperas Cove Bulldawgs.
The Lady Hippos had a very strong showing against the Wildcats in their first game of 2023. The Lady Hippos defense helped lead to offense as they defeated the Wildcats by a score of 42-25.
The momentum from their big win carried over into their second district game against the Bulldawgs. This game was a very special one because Lady Hippos junior Alyssa Batton reached the 1,000point mark for her career.
The Lady Hippos started the game strong, jumping out to a 10-6 lead in the first quarter before both teams exploded offensively in the second quarter.
The Lady Hippos and the Bulldawgs both reached double-digit scoring numbers in the second quarter with the Lady Hippos edging the out the Bulldawgs. The Lady Hippos added 16 points to their lead, while the Bulldawgs added 11 points for a 26-17 lead for the Lady Hippos.
The lead proved to be insignificant to the Bulldawgs, as they came out in the second half ready to show they are here to play, and they did just that. The Bulldawgs outscored the Lady Hippos for the first time in the game, cutting the Lady Hippos’ lead to 39-31 before the final quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Bulldawgs’ offense continued to buzz as they again outscored the Lady Hippos in the fourth, but it was not enough as the Lady Hippos weathered the storm and came out with their second district win of the season.
Batton celebrated scoring her 1,000th point by leading her team with 23 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, four steals and a block. Close behind Batton in terms of points was senior Sincere McCallister, who scored 11 points along with seven rebounds and two assists.
The Lady Hippos district schedule will continue on Tuesday, Dec. 10, when they travel to Bryan looking to grab their third district win of the season.
