By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
On Friday night Hayden girls basketball fans got a glimpse of a future star for the Wildcats, with freshman Brylee Meier collecting 21 points off of the bench, including 13 points in the third quarter, as the Wildcats improved to 2-0 with a 48-41 home Centennial League win over Class 6A Manhattan.
“She showed us in practice that she can be a special player. She had a great game,” said Hayden coach Carvel Reynoldson.
Carvel Reynoldson's Hayden girls improved to 2-0 Friday night with a 48-41 win over Manhattan. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Meier went eight of nine from the free throw line, which was an impressive feat for one of the youngest girls on the Hayden team.
“I’m most proud of her (Meier) free throws down the stretch. That’s huge pressure for a freshman. She didn’t even draw iron, they were all a swish,” said Reynoldson.
Senior Carly Stuke had a solid game for the Wildcats as well. Stuke scored nine out of the first 15 points in the first quarter. Stuke would earn 11 points on the night, including shooting a perfect 100 percent from the free-throw line.
Missed opportunities behind the 3-point line couldn’t push Hayden past Manhattan before the half, with Manhattan taking a 27-24 halftime lead.
“We got off to a good offensive start. We did a poor job on defense. We were chasing numbers most of the first half. They (Manhattan) have good enough size, so if we are chasing numbers, they will make us pay in the paint. Which they did,” said Reynoldson.
The Wildcats would regroup and collect themselves. Attacking the paint, forcing turnovers, hitting free throws, and outrebounding a sizeable Manhattan team is what they did excel at in the second half.
Meier’s stellar helped the Wildcats propel over the Indians.
Hayden (2-0) will host Washburn Rural (3-0) on Tuesday night.
HAYDEN GIRLS 48, MANHATTAN 41
Hayden (2-0, 2-0) – Meier 6 8-9 21, Stuke 3 4-4 11, Smith 2 2-3 6, Greco 2 2-4 6, Sandstorm 1 0-2 2, Angulano 1 0-0 2. Total 15 16-22 48.
Manhattan (0-3, 0-3) – Dixon 7 5-6 20, Larson 6 0-0 13, Yates 2 2-3 6, Doering 1 0-0 2. Total 16 7-12 41.
3-point Goals – Hayden 2 (Stuke, Meier) Manhattan 2 (Larson, Dixon) Total Fouls – Hayden 13, Manhattan 17.
