KEARNEY, Mo. — Park Hill did exactly what coach Aaron Neeser wanted in the championship game of the Bulldog Classic in Kearney.
The Trojans’ defense slowed down the scoring tandem of Abby Couch and Caroline Kelly, but had no answer for Mackenzie Hoffman.
The junior hit five 3-pointers and that sparked Class 4 No. 6-ranked Bulldogs to a 49-41 victory on Saturday, Jan. 18.
“No. 11 (Hoffman) had a career night,” Neeser said. “If you are telling me we hold Couch and Kelly to 21 points, I’d say we’d win the game. In championship games you need bench players to step up and they did.”
The Trojans led 10-8 following the first quarter after Teresa Thomas scored with 35 seconds left. The senior had a three-point play early in the second to break a 10-10 tie to give the Trojans the lead back.
Abby Couch scored to pull Kearney within a point before Hoffman hit back-to-back 3s to make it 18-13. With 41 seconds left, Hoffman hit her third 3-pointer, making it 23-15.
Anisha Vondenkamp scored with 13 seconds left to help the Trojans to pull within 23-18.
CODY THORN/Citizen photo
Park Hill’s Teresa Thomas goes up for a layup against Kearney during the championship game of the Bulldog Classic on Saturday, Jan. 18 in Kearney.
Kearney opened the second half on a 9-0 run and tallied 13 of the first 17 points in the third quarter. The deficit for the Trojans grew to 14 point before a late rally, 5-0, made it 37-29.
Park Hill looked to have cut the deficit down early in the fourth, but a charge was called and negated the basket that would’ve made it 37-31. Later in the quarter, Jordan Austin’s bucket pulled the Trojans within six again (39-33) but then the game turned in Kearney’s favor for the final time.
Park Hill missed a shot and then had a turnover so the chance to trim into the deficit didn’t happen. Hoffman then responded with a pair of 3s to make it 45-33 and all but essentially ended the game.
“Did I expect this? Yes and no,” Kearney coach Troy Resler said. “She had been shooting well and I commented to her that her confidence kept growing and she’s been shooting well. She’s hit a three here or there or a long two or offensive rebounds and putback. The little things you see earns more minutes and extends to get a better role. You kind of could sense a breakout might be coming but did I know she will hit five 3s? No. At the same time you can see she was kind on the verge of a big night.”
The Kearney held a double-digit lead until the final minute when DQ Guillory had a three-point play and Kennedy Townsend scored in the final minute.
“It will be a good measuring stick for us and we got better with this game,” Neeser said.
Townsend and Thomas were both named to the all-tournament team for the Trojans.
Guillory and Townsend each had 10 points in a loss for Park Hill.
Hoffman had a game-high 17, while Kelly, an all-tournament pick, scored 12.
Park Hill 59, Chillicothe 50
The Trojans beat the Hornets in a semifinal game on Wednesday, Jan. 15 in the Bulldog Classic
Locked in a close game at halftime, leading 29-26, Sam Bertoncino hit a pair of 3-pointers and made two free throws to help Park Hill boosts its lead to 45-38 going into the final quarter.
Kennedy Townsend scored eight of her game-high 21 points in the fourth to help secure the win. Bertoncino scored 14, while DQ Guillory scored 11.
Park Hill 66, KC Southeast 30
Teresa Thomas scored 20 of her game-high 22 points in the first half as the Trojans dominated the Knights in an opening round game on Monday, Jan. 13.
Thomas had 10 points in each of the first two quarters.
Kennedy Townsend added 10 points for Park Hill.