HOMER — The Homer Lady Knights started — and finished — fast to punch their first state tournament ticket in over a decade.
The Lady Knights battled Maywood/Hayes Center in an entertaining Friday afternoon clash at Homer High School and scored the final eight points to pull away late for a 65-55 win over the Wolves to claim the C2-5 title and earn a trip to next week’s Nebraska State Girls Basketball Championships.
Homer got off to a great start early, scoring the first six points of the contest with a fast break attack that led to baskets by Lilly Harris, Tori Walker and Rylie Harris for a 6-0 lead three minutes into the game.
The visiting Wolves rode the hot shooting of Caylie Softley, who scored 17 of her game-high 23 points in the first half to keep the game close. The Wolves led 24-23 early in the second, but hot shooting by Ali Albrecht and Walker helped the hosts to a 40-38 lead at the break.
Homer opened the third period with a 7-0 run and never trailed again, but the Wolves made a game of it, getting to within two at 57-55 on a 3-pointer by Kelsi Cox with 1:43 to go.
Homer (24-2) responded with a basket by Janessa Overgaard, who scored all 10 of her points in the second half, then closed with two free throws by Lilly Harris, an Albrecht layup and a Harris basket in a 30-second stretch of the game’s final minute to close out the win.
Four players scored in double figures for the Lady Knights, led by Albrecht’s 20 points. Walker added 16 and Overgaard and Lilly Harris both had 10.
Softley led the Wolves (21-6) with 23 points, followed by Cox with 11.
Complete story and highlights in next week’s edition of the Dakota County Star.
Homer 65, Maywood/Hayes Center 55
Homer 16 24 13 12 — 65
Maywood/HC 14 24 8 9 — 55
HOMER — Loofe 4, L. Harris 10, Walker 16, Albrecht 20, R. Harris 5, Overgaard 10.
MAYWOOD/HC — Stengel 4, Broz 2, Farr 6, Softley 23, Stengel 9, Cox 11.
