The South Hamilton Hawks basketball teams made the trip south into Dallas County on Friday night, to take on the Perry Bluejays in their Heart of Iowa Conference opener at Perry High School. South Hamilton’s girls and boys teams entered with unblemished records, while Perry’s girls entered at 2-0 and the Perry boys were in their season-opener.
Mark Henderson’s crew got off to a slow start against the Bluejays, leading only 7-3 at the end of the first quarter. However, the Hawks offense and Hallee Feaker would come alive in the 2nd quarter, with Feaker scoring 12 in the frame to give South Hamilton a 30-12 halftime advantage. The 3rd quarter would belong to the Hawks as well, before Perry would make a push with 19-9 scoring margin in the 4th, but it was too little, too late as South Hamilton scored a 54-39 win. Hallee Feaker led all scorers with 23 points and was the Jewell Market Player of the Game, Reagan Baldwin led Perry with 18 points.
South Hamilton’s boys followed, looking to build off their Thursday night win over Iowa Falls-Alden, but an improved Perry team hung tight, trailing only 20-16 at the end of the 1st. South Hamilton would begin hammering the paint, using it to build a 38-26 halftime lead. Perry would not back down, as the Bluejays brought it to 45-42 after the 3rd, and a Geren Kenney and-one tied the game at 56-56 and eventually sent it to overtime. South Hamilton would pull away in overtime, outscoring Perry 19-9 in the frame to clinch a 75-65 overtime win. Teagan Trask was named the Jewell Market Player of the Game with 21 points and 9 rebounds, Perry’s Owen Myers led all scorers with 26 points.
The Hawks return to action on Tuesday night, when they travel to Jefferson to take on Greene County at Greene County High School.