It's been a tough season for the Ooltewah Lady Owls, but freshman MacKenzie Bernier gave Owls' fans a glimpse into what they hope to be a bright future Thursday night.
Bernier scored 24 points -- 20 in the second half -- to help Ooltewah pick up its third win of the season 40-31 over visiting Hixson in a non-district contest.
After a low-scoring first half where the teams combined for just 21 points, Ooltewah (3-10) led 13-8 at the break.
The offenses picked up in the second half, due in part to the Lady Owls forcing more of an up-tempo game with their full-court press.
With Hixson in a tight zone defense, Ooltewah's more aggressive second-half defense spread the floor more effectively for the offense. Bernier took advantage, scoring in transition and on the block down low.
The Owls opened up an eight-point lead early in the third quarter, but Hixson (6-8) fought back behind post player Kirby Brown. Brown scored eight of her team-high 20 points in the period, and the Lady Wildcats ended the quarter on a 6-0 run to close the gap to two points.
Up 27-23 with just over five minutes to play, Ooltewah's Jada Tharp drilled a 3-pointer to extend the margin to seven. Hixson's Anna Johnston answered, however, and the lead was back to four.
It was all Ooltewah, and Bernier, over the final four minutes. The Lady Owls closed the game on a 10-5 run and pulled away for the victory.
Anya Sutton scored eight points for the Lady Owls, while Riley Bellamy chipped in five for Hixson.
Ooltewah Boys 77, Hixson 21: Ooltewah (9-10) jumped out to a commanding 26-6 lead after the first quarter and never looked back, going on to win comfortably. Four Owls scored in double-figures, led by AJ Hyndman with 18 points.
Owls' big man Trey Sims was a force down low in the first half, where he scored 12 of his 14 points. Deleon Petty -- who scored 29 points against Bradley Central on Tuesday night -- had 11, while Tarel McClurkin chipped in ten. Chris Styles and Dominic Mackaluso also scored nine apiece.
All 18 players that played -- nine on each side -- scored at least a point, with Kevin Morris leading the Wildcats (0-14) with four.
After suffering narrow losses to East Hamilton, Walker Valley, and Bradley Central, Ooltewah coach Jay Williams hopes the Owls can get over the hump during the second half of their District 5-3A schedule.
"The biggest thing we have to have to get over the hump is confidence," said Williams. "They have to have confidence in themselves, as well as confidence that we have confidence in them. I've told them that they just need to focus on doing more good things than bad."
"We also have to make defense our rock. I know it's a cliche, but it's true. Good defenses will always be there no matter how well we're scoring the basketball. We have a lot of good offenses in our district, and we need to play well defensively every single game."
GIRLS GAME SUMMARY
HIXSON 6 2 13 10 -- 31
OOLTEWAH 8 5 10 17 -- 40
HIXSON (31) – Kirby Brown 20, Bellamy 5, Johnston 3, Nakata 2, Strickland 1, Alford, Sullivan
OOLTEWAH (40) – MacKenzie Bernier 24, Sutton 8, O'Donnell 3, Tharp 3, Poland 2, Casteel, Thompson, I-Garcia, Collier, Soto, Turman, Dillard.
3-POINT GOALS: Hixson 1 (Johnston); Ooltewah 2 (O'Donnell, Tharp).
BOYS GAME SUMMARY
HIXSON 6 5 5 5 -- 21
OOLTEWAH 26 19 22 10 -- 77
HIXSON (21) – Morris 4, Smith 3, Poronto 3, Earls 2, Hickman 2, Davis 2, Wesley 2, Delafanta 2, Burton 1.
OOLTEWAH (77) – AJ Hyndman 18, Trey Sims 14, Deleon Petty 11, Tarel McClurkin 10, Styles 9, Mackaluso 9, Haynes 2, McHone 2, Johnson 2.
3-POINT GOALS: Hixson 1 (Poronto); Ooltewah 4 (Hyndman 2, McClurkin 2).
(Contact Kevin Llewallyn at kevin.llewallyn@gmail.com)