Hayti girls basketball suffers season-ending loss to No. 1 ranked Thayer 64-21

Photo by Dustin Ward, staff
Hayti senior Marcquasia takes a contested shot against the Thayer defense in a Class 2 girls basketball sectional Wednesday night at Sikeston Field House.

SIKESTON, Mo. - The Hayti Indians varsity girls basketball team became the latest victim of the No. 1 ranked Thayer Bobcats Wednesday night.

Thayer jumped out to a 15-2 lead after one quarter of play, increased its lead to 47-9 by halftime, and enjoyed a 63-13 lead by the end of the third quarter on its way to 64-21 victory against Hayti in a Class 2 sectional at Sikeston Field House.

“I felt like from the game standpoint we didn’t come out and do what we wanted to do,” Hayti coach Craig Rodgers said. “We didn’t hit our shots. But you have to credit their defense. They play lockdown defense and don’t let you get anything in the paint period.

“I think we were more shell-shocked than anything and that was to be expected with a lot of freshmen,” Rodgers continued. “But I plan on being back here next year.”

The Indians struggled to get in an offensive flow at the start of each half. Thayer allowed only one field goal in the first quarter and third quarter while feasting off of transition buckets created by its trapping defense.

“The post was open at times but we didn’t make the pass,” Rodgers said. “I don’t think we saw the floor well. When we got open shots we hesitated until the shot wasn’t open anymore. But I liked the fact we never gave up. It’s hard to keep playing when you are down by 50 and they did that tonight in the fourth quarter. The next three years things are going to get better, better, and better.”

Freshman guard Amiya Johnson paced Hayti with a dozen points.

Thayer displayed a balanced offensive attack from the perimeter and inside the paint. The Bobcats finished with 21 2-point field goals and five treys.

Sophomore Maddy Kerley finished with six 2-point field goals and a 3-pointer. She paced Thayer with 15 points.

Senior Angela Sorrell added 14 points and senior Julie Stone also finished in double digits for the Bobcats with 11 points.

Thayer (27-3) will play Oran in a Class 2 quarterfinal Saturday at 2:45 p.m. at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff. Oran (22-6) won its Class 2 sectional against Valle Catholic 75-25 Wednesday night.

Hayti finishes its season with a record of 15-8. It graduates three seniors - Shabrika Hubbard, Marcquasia Abraham, and Tasha Abbott.

“The three seniors mean a whole lot to me,” Rodgers said. “I’ve worked with these girls since they were in the eighth grade. It hurts losing seniors. This is my third year of graduating seniors off this squad and it never gets any easy.

“The thing about it is I have a girl on my team that can go play at the next level next year in Shabrika Hubbard,” Rodgers added. “That means more to me than winning this game today. She’s going to get her chance to play at the next level. She had a baby and came back and impacted our season five weeks later. We wouldn’t have won the games we won this year without her. Her perseverance says a lot about our team. We never gave up.”

Thayer 64, Hayti 21

HHS 2 7 4 8 - 21

THS 15 32 16 1 - 64

HAYTI (21) - Ariyani Robinson 4, Shabrika Hubbard 3, Amiya Johnson 12, Akyra Humes 2. FG 7, FT 6/18, F 10. (3-pointers: Johnson 1; Fouled out: None).

THAYER (64) - Maddy Kerley 15, Avery Pierce 2, Katie Wade 3, Angela Sorrell 14, Marissa Webber 2, Julie Stone 11, Jurnee Rolen 2, Shelby Coursey 8, Teagan Phelps 1. FG 26, FT 7/11, F 16. (3-pointers: Kerley 1, Pierce 2, Wade 1, Stone 1; Fouled out: None).