Hermantown Girls Hold Off Duluth East

Feb 18

Joe Vork-NSO

HERMANTOWN –
Hermantown was looking to snap a recent 5-game skid as they welcomed the Duluth East Greyhound Thursday evening. The Hawks, who were led by Jessica Love’s 27 points, defeated the Duluth East Greyhounds by a score of 53-52.

Duluth East scored first and led in the early going 9-6. However, the Hawks went on an 8-0 run and never relinquished the lead for the duration of the game. The Greyhounds were sparked in the first half by their junior guard Macie Dorow, who scored 9 points. The Hawk’s Jessica Love countered with 10 first half points of her own to pace her team to a 22-16 halftime lead.

Hermantown opened the second half clearly determined to grab the momentum and, after trading early baskets, went on a 10-0 run to extend the lead to 34-20. But in a game that saw momentum swing like a pendulum of a grandfather clock, East sophomore guard Shamika Hopkins scored 6 straight points to close the lead to 38-30.

Hermantown held the second half lead until 1:11 left in the game when East’s Alex Freeman drained a 3 point shot from the left side of the perimeter to tie the game at 50. Jessica Love then put the Hawks up 52-50 when she hit a shot inside the paint. Then in a frenetic ending, it appeared Hermantown would hold on to win after Love appeared to have created a jump ball in the Hawk’s defensive zone. However, what appeared to be a jump ball was actually a foul that sent East’s Anne Mahoney to the free throw line where she converted both free throws to tie the game at 52.

The Hawks set up their half court offense for the last possession, and again it was Love who drove into the paint where she was fouled and converted 1 of 2 free throws to put the Hawks up 53-52 with nine seconds left. East had one last chance, but missed a shot at the buzzer, allowing the Hawks to preserve the win.

Hermantown was led in scoring by Jessica Love with 27 points. Duluth East had three players in double figures with Macie Dorow scoring 15 points, Shamika Hopkins had 14 points, and Anne Mahoney had 11 points.

With the win, Hermantown is now 13-10 on the season. The Hawks will be back in action when they host Virginia in a Saturday matinee game at 2:45 pm.

Joe Vork can be reached at joe@northlandsportsonline.com