Lady Tigers claim first district championship since 2012

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

Down by 7 early in the fourth quarter of the Friday’s Class 1, District 4 girls basketball championship against Wheaton, Exeter refused to give in, crafting an 18-point final frame to win the team’s first district title since 2012 with a 41-37 victory.

Jennifer Young, Lady Tigers coach, said despite scoring 10 more points than the Lady Bulldogs in the fourth quarter, defense was what won the game.

“Defense was what we talked about, and even though we got in some foul trouble, we played great defense,” she said. “We played better defense all week [throughout the tournament] than we have all year.”

Wheaton also relied on their defense to hold a lead for three quarters, shutting out Exeter’s top scorer, senior Shea Hilburn, for more than 20 of the 32 minutes.

“Our No. 1 scorer was heavily guarded, so someone else had to score,” Young said. “I think when she got those first couple shots in everyone took a breath.”

Hilburn said after her scoreless first half, she had an internal conversation in the locker room.

“At halftime, I was thinking I have to push myself to score some baskets for my team, she said. “In the first half, I didn’t make anything, and in the second half, I had to fight and push my way to the basket. 

“We didn’t have as many turnovers in the first half as the other team, and Breely [Willis] was putting in points and Beatriz [Alcaraz] was drawing fouls.”

The game was entirely scoreless for the first 3 minutes, with the first quarter resulting in a 7-6 edge for Wheaton. Midway through the second, the led was 2 points, and at halftime, Wheaton was up 17-12.

The lead ballooned in the third quarter to 29-23, and with 5:29 remaining, the Lady Bulldogs were still enjoying a 5-point edge. With 3:45 left and a 4-point difference, Hilburn knocked down a 3-pointer to make it a one-possession game for the first time in the second half. She then stole an inbound pass and added another pair to give the Lady Tigers their first lead of the game. 

Wheaton’s Harmony Loftis took it back with a layup, but a Jaylee Hawkins 3-pointer put Exeter up by 2 with under 2 minutes remaining. The Lady Tigers’ defense shut Wheaton out the rest of the way, with Hilburn and Alcaraz adding free throws on intentional fouls to provide the final scoreline.

Young said when the two teams met the week prior, a 48-39 game in the Lady Bulldogs’ favor, film from that gam proved pivotal.

“We watched the film on that game, and our shooting percentage was the worst of the year,” she said. “But, I knew if we hit some baskets and played some defense, we could do it [in the championship].”

Jessica Dermott, Wheaton girls basketball coach, said though the game did not go in her team’s favor, she was proud of the effort.

“We battled to the end, and we knew it would be a close game,” she said. “We’ve got to do the little things, but I think we got tired and in our heads. At the free throw line, we were knocking them down, but the girls just ran out of gas and didn’t do the little things that win big games.”

The Lady Bulldogs, who were seeded No. 4 in the tournament and upset No. 2 McAuley Catholic in the semifinals, 37-31, turned in a near .500 season at 14-15.

“This season was a lot better considering e only won four games last year,” she said. “It’s really incredible because some came back to play and some did not, and i’m proud of the ones who stuck it out.”

Exeter was the No. 5 seed and upset their way through the bracket, besting No. 4 Thomas Jefferson, 47-41, and No. 1 Liberal, 54-51, en route to the win over Wheaton.

“I told the girls everyone could get beat by anyone or compete with anyone,” Young said. We knew we had a chance, but we had to play the best games of our lives. We matched up well with Wheaton one on one, and we knew defense would win the game.

“The girls worked hard all season, and we had a lot of downs. We just got our groove back and kept working.”

Exeter, at 12-15 after the championship win, was also vindicated after having come up short in the title match with Hurley last year, 48-29.

“It felt good to redeem ourselves from last year,” Hilburn said. “I was happy to push the team to come back from behind and get the win and the plaque on the wall.”

Hilburn, who crossed the 1,500 career points mark this season, finished the game with 15 points — all in the second half. Willis had 11, Alcaraz put in 7, Hawkins added 5 (all in the fourth quarter), and Kahlan Fuller contributed a 3-pointer.

For Wheaton, Perla Hinojosa led the way with 15 points, followed by Loftis with 12. Hallie Potarf put in 6, Mallory Royer added 3, and Meyah Peckham put in a free throw.

Exeter faced Walnut Grove (24-4) in the round of 16 on Monday, falling 63-30.