The North Greene Lady Huskies entered Friday night’s Region 1-1A quarterfinal matchup against Hancock County with confidence, having decisively defeated the Lady Indians during the regular season and once again they won convincingly, 66-23 in the elimination game.
“We tried to explain to them yesterday at practice that [Hancock County] came out in a little zone defense. We shot it great, and I think it was 29-0 at the end of the first quarter. So, I told them, ‘Do you really think they are going to drive up here and do the exact same thing? The answer is no.’ So we were anticipating something different, and sure enough, we get here, and they are really playing hard—they got after us in the half-court. It frustrated us, and I think they got a lot of pass deflections. We had some uncharacteristic turnovers, and it was just a sloppy start,” Buchanan said of Hancock County’s adjusted game plan.
A sluggish opening quarter reflected that prediction, as both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm.
North Greene had trouble capitalizing early, missing three consecutive layups. However, their defensive intensity set the tone, forcing turnovers on Hancock County’s first five possessions. It took over five minutes for the Lady Huskies to establish any offensive consistency, but once they did, they quickly rattled off seven unanswered points to take a 7-0 lead.
Following that initial burst, the scoring pace slowed again until Hannah Miller was fouled and converted both free throws with under two minutes remaining in the quarter. North Greene closed the period with two additional baskets, ending the first quarter with a 12-5 advantage.
The offensive struggles continued into the second quarter for both teams, with nearly three minutes elapsing before either squad found the basket. Josie Graham finally broke the drought with a fast-break layup, sparking a surge for the Lady Huskies. Miller followed with back-to-back scores, and Ella Head connected from beyond the arc, pushing North Greene’s lead to 21-5 midway through the quarter.
The momentum continued to build. The Lady Huskies opened the quarter with a dominant 16-0 run before Hancock County finally managed its first points. The Lady Indians would only score twice more before halftime, while North Greene continued to extend its advantage. At the break, the Lady Huskies held a commanding 36-11 lead.
Miller remained a force inside throughout the third quarter, adding six points in the first four minutes as North Greene’s defensive pressure continued to stifle Hancock County. The Lady Indians’ only points in the period came from free throws or fast-break opportunities. North Greene closed the quarter on a 13-2 run, led by contributions from Head and Kaydence Marshall, to take a 60-19 lead into the final frame.
With the game well in hand, Coach Buchanan turned to his deep freshman class, allowing them extended playing time. Despite the lineup change, North Greene still outscored Hancock County in the final quarter, sealing a dominant 66-23 victory.
Miller led the Lady Huskies with 25 points, while Graham added nine.
With the win, North Greene advances to the Region 1-1A semifinals, where they will face Cosby on Monday at West Ridge High School.
Looking ahead to next week’s game, Buchanan emphasized the importance of preparation and a strong start for his team.
“We are going to get in here tomorrow morning and start studying some stuff; I think we know their personnel fairly well. I’m sure they are making some adjustments, and we are, too. I guess it’s going to be kind of like a process there at the beginning where we ask, ‘What are they doing differently?’ And they will be doing the same thing to us. I don’t mind the slow starts as long as we’re playing smart and making good decisions. But hopefully, we’ll see the ball go through the hoop a few times early—that would be nice,” Buchanan said.
