Ravens get first win of the season

By Paul D. Bowker
Posted 12/14/21

Esther Hughes and Leah Bontrager were sophomores the last time that Hillcrest Academy had scored a win in girls basketball.

More than 22 months had passed.

The winless streak ended last …

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Ravens get first win of the season

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Esther Hughes and Leah Bontrager were sophomores the last time that Hillcrest Academy had scored a win in girls basketball.

More than 22 months had passed.

The winless streak ended last Saturday for the Ravens, and Hughes and Bontrager both had career nights in a 64-15 victory over Rivermont Collegiate.

Hughes scored 39 points on 80% shooting and Bontrager had 10 points.

The Ravens, who had lost their first six games this year after not playing at all last year because there weren’t enough girls to fill a team, had not won a game since February 4, 2020. A big deal? Oh, yes.

“Tonight, kind of getting that monkey off our back, getting that first win, it’s huge for the girls,” Hillcrest coach Mitch Drey said. “We’re confident in team basketball, this gives a lot of confidence.”

Also scoring a career high was Malia Yoder, a freshman who had 9 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals.

Hughes had 8 steals and 6 rebounds.

The Ravens gave up just two points in the first half and shut out Rivermont in the second quarter.

“The girls were doing the little things in practice and in games,” Drey said. “Tonight, it kind of justified. That’s the feeling that we’re striving, that’s the reason we do all those little things.”

Combined, Hughes and Bontrager made 21-of-26 shots.

 

Columbus 41, Hillcrest 33

The Ravens fought back from a nine-point deficit in the final quarter, cutting Columbus’ lead to just six points with 36 seconds left. But the Wildcats (2-5) held on for the win in a game played December 9 at Hillcrest.

Hughes scored a game-high 20 points.

Vlada Conea had a team-high 9 rebounds for Hillcrest. Hughes, Norah Yoder and Malia Yoder each had two steals.

Libby White led Columbus with 13 points.

Norah Yoder hit a shot in the final minute to make it 39-33, but a pair of free throws by Ariana Vergara of Columbus iced the game for the Wildcats.

 

L-M 60, Hillcrest 31

Louisa-Muscatine scored 21 points in the opening quarter and held HIllcrest under eight points in each of the first three quarters in a game played December 7.

Hughes scored 13 points for the Ravens.

L-M senior Kaylee Corbin torched the Ravens for 32 points on 75% shooting. She also had a game-high 9 rebounds, 5 of them on the offensive boards.

Hillcrest freshman Malia Yoder added 6 points. Vlada Conea had a team-high 6 rebounds.

The win was the fourth straight for Louisa-Muscatine.

 

GAME STATS

 

Rivermont 2 0 9 4 -- 15

Hillcrest 17 18 12 15 -- 62

HILLCREST SCORING: Esther Hughes 39, Leah Bontrager 10, Malia Yoder 9, Norah Yoder 4, Lydia Beachy 2.REBOUNDING: Hughes 6, Malia Yoder 5, Norah Yoder 4, Kylee Statler 4, Lydia Beachy 4.

 

Columbus 8 11 16 6 -- 41

Hillcrest 6 9 9 9 -- 33

 

HILLCREST SCORING: Esther Hughes 20, Malia Yoder 6, Norah Yoder 5, Leah Bontrager 2. REBOUNDING: Vlada Conea 9, Norah Yoder 4, Hughes 4.

COLUMBUS SCORING: Libby White 13, Lily Coil 11, Ariana Vergara 6, Aracely Garza 5, Sera Vela 3, Frannie Sosa 3.

 

Hillcrest 6 7 5 13 -- 31

L-M 21 14 15 10 -- 60

 

HILLCREST SCORING: Esther Hughes 13, Malia Yoder 6, Norah Yoder 3, Delaney Shaw 3, Vlada Conea 2, Leah Bontrager 2, Lydia Beachy 2. REBOUNDING: Conea 6, Beachy 4, Hughes 3.

LOUISA-MUSCATINE SCORING: Kaylee Corbin 32, McKenzie Kissell 10, Destiny Miller 8, McKenna Hohenadel 3, Emilee Salek 2, Rylee Cole 2, Brenna Shutterle 2.