HMS sweeps Wartburg

Harriman swept a pair of basketball games from Wartburg in middle school action Monday night.

Girls Game

The Lady Devils used a suffocating defense and a huge advantage on the boards to take the Lady ‘Dogs in a low scoring affair 26-12 last Monday Night at Harriman middle school. 

Jada Johnson made her presence known quickly for the Lady Devils as she tallied four quick points and the Lady Devils would never look back.  Johnson also pulled down four rebounds in the opening quarter as Harriman (13-5) had a shutout after one quarter 9-0.

  The second quarter was not much better offensively for Wartburg (5-7) as they continued to struggle to figure out the Harriman defense. The ‘Lady Dogs could only manage one Lauren Farmer free throw in the first half as they trailed 13-1 at the break. 

Wartburg was only able to get up nine field goal attempts in the opening half. 

The Lady ‘Dogs were finally able to get a little offense going as Sydney Elrod drained a three-pointer and Farmer hit a lay-up in the third quarter but the Harriman lead still grew. Katie Hall, Racheal Crass, and Karly Paige all scored in the third period for Harriman as they led 19-6 after the third quarter.

Lady Devil Christina Pack starting the fourth quarter off with a three-pointer to give Harriman their biggest lead of the night 22-6. Lady ‘Dog Hannah Hurtt answered with back-to-back three pointers to close the lead to 22-12 with 3:50 remaining, but the Lady ‘Dogs would not score again as Harriman won going away 26-12.

The Lady Devils were led by Jada Johnson with 11 points and nine rebounds while Wartburg was led in scoring by Hannah Hurtt with six points. 

Wartburg (12) Hurtt 6, Elrod 3, Farmer 3. 

Harriman (26) Johnson 11, Crass 4, Kring 3, Pack 3, Hall 2, Paige 2, Goins 1.

Boys Game

The Blue Devils used a big first half from John Johnson to build a big lead but had to hold off a furious rally by Wartburg to win 47-41.

It was Harriman that drew first blood on this night. After an old-fashioned three-point play by Wartburg’s Nick Hopper gave Wartburg (11-2) their only lead of the night it was Johnson’s turn to go to work. He reeled off the next eight points and the Devils would take a 12-6 lead after one quarter.

The second quarter went as the first quarter ended. Wartburg had no answer for Johnson and his points kept mounting. The first half ended with Harriman pulling out to a 25-12 lead. Johnson had 19 points at the half.

The second half begin with a different tune for the Devils as the supporting cast got involved. Five different players scored for Harriman as the lead ballooned to 34-16 at the 3:51 mark of the third quarter. 

At this point Wartburg’s Thomas Carroll took over. He would score 11 of the next 14 Bulldog points. The third quarter would end with Harriman leading 39-28. 

After baskets by Johnson and Hunter Clark increased the Devil lead, the ‘Dogs were poised for one more run. Justin Thomas would lead this run with his tenacious rebounding, scoring on two put backs in the final quarter. 

The Bulldogs would pull within five late in the final period but a three pointer by Harriman’s Eli Duncan would seal the deal for Harriman. 

Johnson led the Blue Devils with 22 points and eight rebounds. Duncan added 10 points for Harriman as well. 

Wartburg was led by Carroll with 13 points and five steals. Hopper and Dillon Fountain added nine points each.

Harriman hosts Cherokee on Monday and will travel to Midway on Thursday to end the regular season. The Blue Devils will open postseason tournament play the following Tuesday as Oliver Springs will be hosting the area tournament.

Wartburg (41) Carroll 13, Hopper 9, Fountain 9, Thomas 7, Harlan 3.

 Harriman (47) Johnson 22, Duncan 10, Mcclain 9, Clark 4, Watson 2.