By JUSTIN BURKHARDT
TopSports.news
Hayden’s Lady Wildcats saw themselves in familiar position Saturday night, with their third straight sub-state state tournament berth on the line againt Baldwin.
Hayden's girls pose for a team picture after clinching a third straight state tournament berth with Saturday's 52-22 win over Baldwin. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN
The Wildcats would see the Lady Bulldogs put up a early fight by taking a early 6-5 lead and then getting within three at 15-12 early in the second quarter, but that would be all she wrote for the Bulldogs as Hayden would take off and outscore the bulldogs 37-10 the rest of the way on the way to a 52-22 rout.
The Wildcats would get a early three from senior Bella Reid.
“I was excited and I was glad it went in because all my friends and family were their watching me,'' Reid said. “This season has been a highlight of my basketball career, playing beside by my best friends has meant everything to me. This season has definitely been my favorite and I will be sad when it is over.”
The Wildcats, who have featured a starting lineup that features four seniors and a standout freshman in 5-foot-11 Hailey Schmidtlein, who would score 11 points for the Cats.
“It means a lot to go to state as a freshman,'' Schmidtlein said. "The way we played that game, was one play at a time. We really came out strong each quarter, and we really came out strong in the second half. I am so proud of us and I can’t wait to see what we can do at state.”
Senior Norma Greco on making it back to state: “I think that over the recent years we have had good teams and that our program has really taken a step up in the right direction.”
Senior Millie Ramsey scored 12 points in Saturday's 52-22 Hayden sub-state win over Baldwin. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Wildcats will miss a huge senior class next season and a big part of the four-member senior class will be the tandem of Brylee Meier and Millie Ramsey, with Meier being a four-year varsity member and Ramsey being a mid-season transfer a year ago. This will be Ramsey's third trip in a row to the state tournament, with her first trip coming during her time at Highland Park when she would lead her Scots to the 5A state tournament.
Meier and Ramsey would share scoring honors on a special night for the Cats as they would both score 12 points.
“We just came out with a lot of energy and the crowd was really good tonight,'' Meier said. "Everyone came ready to play and we were able to get the win. This program has improved a lot over the years. My teammates and I have all worked really hard to get where we are today. Us going to state for a third year in a row shows all of the blood, sweat and tears we all have put into this program.”
“I think what’s made each one difference is the people that I’m surrounded by and the experience has been amazing and every year the feeling gets better,'' Ramsey said. "It never gets old. This year it’s especially special because it’s my last year and I want go out with a great year.
“I feel like my game has definitely advanced throughout the years, but I think being able to have a good connection with all the girls is a great part of my game and being able to play inside and out kind of helps, too.”
“I thought Baldwin came out and played really well early, and hung with us early,'' Hayden coach Carvel Reynoldson said. "Hailey’s 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the first quarter really jump-started us from there.
”It is really rewarding for the girls that put in so much hard work, when we start in November like everybody else does, it is a long season. And when you add what we do in the summer, it is a lot of basketball, so I am glad we are rewarded for it.”
The Hayden girls will enter the postseason with a 20-2 record and the No. 2 seed at the Class 4A state tournament at the Tony’s Pizza Event Center where the Wildcats will open with No. 7 seed Clay Center.
HAYDEN 52, BALDWIN 22
Baldwin 7 8 4 3 -- 22
Hayden 12 19 16 5 -- 52
Baldwin (14-8) -- Neufeld 2-8 1-5 6, Nigh 1-6 0-0 2, Searl 0-2 12 1, Griffith 0-1 0-0 0, Berg 0-0 0-0 0, Collum 1-5 5-6 8, Frost 1-1 0-0 3, Henry 0-0 2-4 2, Scoby 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 5-24 9-17 22.
Hayden (20-2) -- Ramsey 6-10 0-1 12, Meier 5-10 0-1 12, Schmidtlein 4-10 2-5 11, Greco 2-4 2-2 7, Reid 2-3 0-0 5, Walter 2-3 0-2 4, Borjon 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 21-42 4-11 52.
3-point goals -- Baldwin 3 (Neufeld, Frost, Collum), Hayden 5 (Meier 2, Greco, Reid, Schmidtlein.) Total fouls -- Baldwin 15, Hayden 13.
