By Erik Harris, sports editor
TRUSSVILLE — The Hewitt-Trussville girls basketball team exploded for 25 points in the third quarter to polish off a scrappy Park Crossing team 79-68 on Friday night, improving the Huskies to 12-0 on the year.
Hewitt fed Middle Tennessee State signee Amiya Payne throughout the devastating third frame. Payne did it from inside and out, leading all scorers with 29 points in the win.
Her 15-point outburst in the third broke open what had been a back-and-forth contest. The visitors jumped out to a 9-2 advantage in the opening few minutes and later went to the half locked up at 34-all.
But Payne poured it on after the break. She started the third with a runner in the lane and went on to score three of her team’s next four field goals, as Hewitt’s lead swelled to 50-42. Payne ended the third with a triple that put the Huskies out front 59-44 with eight minutes remaining.
Sitting on a comfortable lead, Hewitt pounded it inside in the fourth. Payne, freshman guard Jordan Hunter and sophomore forward Chrischandria James each worked inside for a pair of makes down the stretch.
Hunter provided 14 points in the win to go with 15 from April Hooks and eight points from Audreonia Benson.
Hewitt honored its three seniors on Friday night following the win. Those players include Payne, Amir Brown and Londyn Johnson-Yates.
The Huskies finish the week at 4-0 with additional wins over Center Point (68-33), Pleasant Grove (52-36), Mortimer Jordan (50-34).