Hauser comes up short in sectionals

With Hauser’s season on the line Wednesday night in its sectional quarterfinal matchup against Southwestern Shelby, the Jets fought hard to the end but came up short to the Spartans, losing 57-44.

Southwestern Shelby started off hot, hitting two 3-point shots to begin the game and never looked back, leading the game from wire to wire. The Jets came as close as one point on two different occasions at 8-7 late in the first quarter and 10-9 early in the second quarter, but they could never get over the hump.

From there, the Spartans methodically pulled away from Hauser throughout the contest. Hauser had trouble finding the basket in the first half, only totaling 14 points, scoring seven points in each of the first two quarters. This allowed Southwestern Shelby to head into the locker room with a 22-14 lead at halftime.

Much like the beginning of the game, the Spartans began the second half quickly, scoring the first six points to extend their lead to 28-14. Following an Eli Miller three to cut the lead to 28-17, Southwestern Shelby went on a 7-0 run to extend its largest lead of the game at 35-17.

The Jets refused to roll over, however. They ended the third quarter with six straight points of their own and began the final quarter scoring the first six points, culminating in a 12-0 run that cut the Spartans’ lead to 35-29. Southwestern Shelby answered right back to extend its lead back to eight points at 41-33. Another Miller 3-pointer brought the Jets to within five points, 41-36, but that is as close as Hauser would get the rest of the game.

The Spartans’ Riley Snepp answered Miller’s 3-point shot with one of his own to extend Southwestern Shelby’s lead back up to eight points, and from there they closed out the game for the sectional victory.

The loss closed out the final chapter of four Hauser seniors’ basketball careers. Landon Asher, Frankie Poole, Kobe Meahl, and Clayton West walked off the court for the final time in their Jets uniforms. And in a season that has been as unique as it has been difficult for all the teams playing this year, Hauser battled and clawed until the end.

Although Hauser will lose these four seniors, the future looks to be in good hands as several underclassmen will return to battle for the Jets next season.

Leading the Jets with 13 points was Miller. Bryce Bates contributed 11 while Meahl scored eight and Koby Johnson had seven.