December 14, 2024

Baxter girls down HLV, advance to regional semifinals

Second-quarter surge sets up huge rubber match with Collins-Maxwell

By Troy Hyde

Baxter senior Maddie Pierce, left, defends an HLV player during the Bolts' home postseason win on Tuesday night. Pierce finished with 15 points and a career-high nine rebounds in the victory. (Photo by Andrea Berg)

BAXTER — Seniors Sophie Meyer and Maddie Pierce triggered a 14-0 run with four made 3-pointers in the second quarter and that helped Baxter’s girls’ basketball team break open a close game during a 64-45 Class 1A Region 6 quarterfinal victory over HLV on Tuesday night.

The Bolts led 11-8 after one quarter but the 14-0 run in the second helped Baxter win the frame 21-9. They outscored HLV 32-28 in the second half.

It was the fourth straight win for Baxter, and the Bolts improved to 20-2. The 20 wins are the most in program history.

HLV ends its season 10-11 despite winning four of its last six games. The Warriors started 4-6.

Baxter senior Sophie Meyer buried five 3-pointers in the Bolts' regional quarterfinal win over HLV on Tuesday night. She also had a career-high nine rebounds. (Photo by Andrea Berg)

In the second, HLV closed to within 13-11, but the Bolts answered with 14 straight points with nine coming on 3-pointers by Meyer. Pierce also buried a trey and McKenzie Eslinger drained a pair of free throws.

Elie Tuhn scored all three of her points late in the second quarter from the free throw line. A Pierce putback made it 32-17 at halftime.

Baxter won the third quarter 21-13. The frame included eight points from Pierce, six from Lilie Vansice and three apiece from Meyer and Eslinger.

It was 52-30 after three quarters and HLV outscored the Bolts 15-11 in the fourth.

Eslinger had an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double and also tallied three steals.

Pierce and Meyer each had 15 points and nine rebounds. The nine boards was a career-best for both players.

Vansice was a fourth player in double figures with 10 points and she grabbed five rebounds and Tuhn had three points, five rebounds, eight assists and three steals. Merrin Ziesman tallied four points and four boards.

The Bolts shot 42 percent from the floor, hit 6-of-22 from 3-point range and made 18-of-33 from the free-throw line. Baxter out-rebounded HLV 48-31 but also committed 22 turnovers.

Karlee Timm led HLV with 13 points, eight rebounds, five assists and seven steals.

The Warriors shot 25 percent from the floor, connected on just 2-of-31 from 3-point range and made 13-of-23 from the line. They committed 17 turnovers.