Lady Hawks grounded in semis

LYNNVILLE — It was a tough time for Hampshire’s shooting eye to be off, but the Lady Hawks couldn’t overcome a lack of offense in Monday night’s Region 5-A Tournament semifinal matchup with Jo Byrns.

Specifically, a second quarter in which the District 10-A regular-season champion managed just two field goals allowed the Lady Red Devils to get their footing and pull away to an eventual 59-42 victory.

Jo Byrns will meet host tourney host Richland, which defeated McEwen 48-40 in the late semifinal game Monday, for the region championship Wednesday at 7 p.m. Both teams will also advance to the Class A state sectionals.

Hampshire, meanwhile, concluded a 19-8 campaign with the loss.

“We’re disappointed, obviously,” coach Ronnie Brewer said. “But I felt like we had a tremendous year. We accomplished things that hadn’t been accomplished in this program in 20 years or more. The fact that it hurt says that they expect to compete every night out. That’s turning a corner. We expect next year to be back in this same position.”

Post players Karlee and Kortney Rowland helped the Lady Hawks to an early advantage, combining for eight first-quarter points as Hampshire led 14-13 at the end of the opening period.

“We knew their posts would give us trouble, and they did,” Jo Byrns coach Jessica Holt said. “Our shots weren’t falling early — nerves. We’ve got two sophomores (Brooke Dowlen, Grayson Bryant) that start, in big roles. Grayson, I could tell, was extremely nervous. We just had to get our nerves in check, calm down and play our game. Once we settled down, we were better.”

Dowlen’s three-point play capped an 8-0 start to the second quarter for the Lady Red Devils, who went on to lead 27-18 by halftime and added two baskets early in the third period.

The Rowlands, though, helped keep things close, teaming for 11 points in the third quarter — but Dowlen’s six points to end the frame gave Jo Byrns (20-5) a 42-36 lead, and the District 9-A champs pulled away over the final eight minutes.

“We got the shots we wanted,” Brewer said. “We didn’t make them. We had enough shots, from point-blank range, to win the game. We had good looks, open looks. At this stage of the game, you can’t miss those type shots and advance.”

Kortney Rowland finished with 16 points to lead Hampshire. Dowlen scored a game-high 25 for Jo Byrns, with Bryant adding 11.

Jo Byrns girls 59, Hampshire 42

H 14 4 18 6 — 42

J 13 14 15 17 — 59

Hampshire (42) — Abby Jones 2, Kortney Rowland 16, Emma Jones 9, Karlee Rowland 9, Hailey Potts 4, Kadence Stoner 2

Jo Byrns (59) — Ashlen Bryant 6, Jaya Herring 8, Brianna Rivera 3, Grayson Bryant 11, Evy Helm 6, Brooke Dowlen 25

3-pointers — Hampshire 1 (E. Jones), Jo Byrns 4 (Herring 2, Rivera, Dowlen)