CASEY GEORG Special to the Press
HEARNE — The Thrall Tigerettes (19-12 overall, 11-0 District 27-2A) varsity basketball team crushed the Hearne Lady Eagles (3-24, 1-10) 62-15 Friday night in Hearne.
Hearne managed an early 3-3 tie, but the Tigerettes outscored the Lady Eagles 16-0 over the remainder of the period.
CeCe Walker and Kinley Hoffman each scored five points in the opening quarter.
Thrall’s swarming defense wreaked havoc on Hearne all night, forcing 40 turnovers, which resulted in 41 Thrall points. Fifteen of those turnovers came in the second quarter, and the Tigerettes converted those into 18 of their 22 second-period points.
Walker and Hoffman each scored eight in the second, primarily off Hearne miscues, and the Tigerettes led 41-6 at the half.
Thrall continued the defensive pressure into the second half, and it was clear that was the Tigerettes’ game plan.
While the Tigerettes only scored a dozen points in the third quarter, Thrall forced a dozen more Hearne turnovers. It was more of the same in the fourth quarter and by the end of the game, Thrall had held the Lady Eagles to just six field goals on 18 percent shooting.
Hoffman led all scorers with 18 points and also recorded six steals.
Walker added 14 points and six steals, and Ashlyn Jarosek scored 10 points.
Bri Jarosek scored six but led the team in rebounding with eight.
The Tigerettes were set to host the Milano Lady Eagles (19-10, 10-1) Tuesday night in a battle for the district title. A Thrall win clinches the district crown and the Tigerettes’ first district title and first undefeated district record since the 2011-2012 season. A Milano win would force a playoff game to determine first and secondplace seeding for the playoffs.
