By Erik Harris
TRUSSVILLE – It started slow for Hewitt-Trussville, but the Lady Huskies came away with a Senior Night win over visiting Pinson Valley.
The Lady Huskies knew exactly where they were supposed to be and when they were suppose to be there, holding the Indians to 26 percent shooting in a 48-38 win on Tuesday night at Bryant Bank Arena.
Pinson Valley controlled the game early, but a 9-0 run to end the first half shifted the momentum toward the Lady Huskies, and they never gave it back.
Hewitt-Trussville senior guard Cayla Dillard dribbles against Mortimer Jordan earlier this season.
file photo by Ron Burkett
With the visitors leading 27-13 with 2:50 left in the second quarter, Kimberly Duffett took over. She went to the paint for six quick points. Bailey Berry helped from the outside by burying a baseline triple at the halftime horn to pull her team to within five.
“We picked it up at the end at the perfect time going into the half,” said Hewitt-Trussville head coach Tonya Hunter.
Three minutes deep into the third quarter, Hewitt-Trussville took the lead. Senior Brianna Howard gave the Lady Huskies a 30-29 advantage before a pair of Berry jumpers grew the advantage to 35-30 moments later.
“We have two seniors, but they are so huge to what we are doing right now,” Hunter said. “I mean Cayla (Dillard) gives us so much on both ends and (Howard) gives us the physicality on the defensive end and rebounding so that’s going to be missed.”
Their lead eventually grew to 10 when Dillard got fouled in the closing seconds as she was attempting to dish out her 1,000th career assist. She connected on both of her free throws, but remains one assist shy of 1,000.
“I told her, ‘Maybe it (will be) a little better in our last game against Clay, a rival that might be a little sweeter,’” Hunter said. “She’s going to get it, that’s the good thing about it. She’s going to get it because she’s that type of player where she’s going to assist the ball to her teammates.”
Hewitt-Trussville will be back in action on Friday night when it hosts Clay-Chalkville. The Lady Indians will celebrate their seniors Thursday night against Walker. Games will begin at 6 p.m.
