Trojans snap Jackets’ win streak

SHERIDAN – A four-game winning streak ended as conference play began Tuesday night in Yellowjacket Arena.

The Sheridan boys basketball team fell behind in the first quarter and couldn’t recover in a 57-46 loss to Hot Springs.

Yellowjackets coach Joe Scott said Sheridan missed too many scoring opportunities.

“When we got clean looks and we needed to capitalize, we didn’t,” Scott said. “We just left points off the board. There were possessions in the second half where we defended really well, and they took the shot that we want, that was contested. It was a deep shot, and it was a long rebound, and we weren’t first to the ball. That happened way too many times tonight.”

Sheridan (6-3, 0-1 in 5A-South) led 4-3 early, but the Trojans took control with a 12-0 run.

Jaeir Hardwell started the Hot Springs run with a 3-pointer and went on to finish it the same way, making it 15-4. He also made two free throws during the stretch.

Scott said the Trojans (5-4, 1-0) hit shots at a higher rate during this run than they had in any of the film the Yellowjackets watched.

“We knew they could score the ball, and we felt like it was a really good matchup for us, as well,” Scott said. “When it was 15-4, we talked about before the game on the gameday guide that it’s going to be a game of runs. They’re going to have an 8-0 run, 9-0 run, something like that. We’re going to bounce back. We’re going to have that same thing, and that’s exactly what happened.”

Sheridan senior Noah Romine got the Yellowjackets going with two free throws and three 3-pointers. Senior Nathan Carter added a dunk, and junior Ethan Anderton cut it to 21-20 from the free throw line in the final seconds of a high-scoring first quarter.

Hot Springs didn’t let Sheridan tie the game or take the lead despite the Yellowjackets’ late run. Sheridan kept it close most of the night, but Hot Springs outscored the Jackets every quarter to maintain the lead.

“We just did not capitalize in the second quarter,” Scott said. “We had a ton of opportunities to come and take the lead, and we just didn’t. That’s the frustrating part about it.”

Both defenses tightened a bit after the first quarter. After the teams combined for 41 points in the first, they scored 15 total in the second. Hot Springs caused Sheridan some problems with its full-court press, though the Yellowjackets’ defense also created turnovers and deflected passes.

Jai’Chaunn Hayes, a former White Hall player, led the Trojans with 21 points. Hardwell scored 14, and Labraun Christon scored 12. Romine led Sheridan with 16.

GIRLS: Sheridan 71, Hot Springs 17

The Sheridan girls used a tremendous shooting performance to pull away early in their conference opener against Hot Springs, 71-17.

Sheridan (5-5, 1-0) made 12 3-pointers, including six in the first quarter.

Senior guard Addison Hill led with 25 points, while junior forward Lilly Reid followed with 19. Senior guard Ella Williamson dished out 13 assists.

Those numbers came in less than three complete quarters. Sheridan pulled its starters with 2:16 remaining in the third.

Hot Springs (0-7, 0-1) scored first with a 3-pointer and held the Lady Jackets scoreless for the first 2 minutes of the game, but Sheridan senior guard Mary Lem’s layup started an 18-0 run which allowed Sheridan to pull away. After Lem’s shot, Hill hit 3-pointers on three straight possessions to give the Lady Jackets the lead.

Sheridan led 41-12 at halftime and 59-14 after the third. Junior guard Sadye Crouse led the reserves with 6 points off two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, which was played with a running clock.