Eighth-ranked (Class 4A) Gilbert is good. Dang good, actually. And so it really wasn’t a surprise when the Tigers raced out to the sizable lead before six minutes had even run off the clock.

But South Hamilton didn’t throw in the towel. It didn’t quit. Instead, it fought.

A 14-2 Hawk run over a 6-minute, 11-second span late in the first quarter and into the second forced Gilbert to stand up and take notice. The Tigers eventually calmed down and rolled to a 57-33 win, but South Hamilton head coach Mark Henderson walked away encouraged by his team’s grit.

“I was very happy with the effort, for sure,” Henderson said. “It’s real easy to hang your head and quit when you get down that much to a team that good.

South Hamilton’s Emma Lewis puts up a shot on the run after driving past Gilbert’s Katie Currans during the first half Friday night in Jewell. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

“This shows the girls what they can do. It’s one thing to beat a team that’s maybe at our level, but to play with and out-play in stretches a team of this caliber, it absolutely gives the girls more confidence.”

Gilbert (12-3, 8-2 HOIC) played without starting forwards Nessa Johnson and Thea Rotto, who combine to average 16.4 points on the season. Their absences allowed South Hamilton to pound the ball inside to forward Caleigh Hewitt and to get the Tigers in deep foul trouble.

Gilbert was whistled for 14 first-half fouls and South Hamilton (6-8, 4-6 HOIC) went 8 for 15 at the line during that time. Hewitt scored seven points during the 14-2 outburst that pulled the Hawks within 17-14 with 3:30 remaining in the half, and she finished with a team-high 11 points.

Gilbert still had sophomore guard Ava Hawthorne, however, and the University of Northern Iowa recruit took over when needed. Hawthorne popped off for 16 first-half points, including five straight after South Hamilton closed to within three, and put up 26 in the game.

Emma Bulman erupted for 17 more points for Gilbert, eight of them coming in the second half when the Tigers outscored the Hawks 30-17.

DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Hallee Feaker pitched in eight points for South Hamilton. Aneesa Balderas had four points, but she went down with an injured right ankle in the fourth quarter and Henderson says her status for Tuesday’s game at North Polk is doubtful.

Gilbert 57, South Hamilton 33

Friday at Jewell

Gilbert (12-3, 8-2 HOIC) — Katie Currans 1 1-6 3, Sydnee Lynch 3 0-0 6, Skylar Hillmann 0 0-0 0, Ava Hawthorne 11 3-3 26, Emma Kruse 0 0-0 0, Ellie Bulman 0 0-0 0, Abby Terrones 0 0-0 0, Johnna Rotto 0 0-0 0, Claire Roske 0 1-1 1, Raney Kruse 1 0-0 2, Jordyn Milhous 1 0-0 2, Grace Ellingson 0 0-0 0, Ava Johnson 0 0-0 0, Emma Bulman 7 3-5 17. Totals: 24 8-15 57.

South Hamilton (6-8, 4-6 HOIC) — Rocio Martinez 0 0-0 0, Emma Lewis 0 0-2 0, Brookelyn George 0 3-4 3, Hailey Diersen 0 2-4 2, Caleigh Hewitt 3 5-7 11, Aneesa Balderas 1 2-3 4, Hallee Feaker 4 0-2 8, Aspen Wibholm 0 0-0 0, Mackenzy Grady 1 0-4 2, Chandler George 0 0-0 0, Zoey Duns 1 1-3 3. Totals: 10 13-29 33.

DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Gilbert 17 10 11 19 — 57

S. Ham. 4 12 8 9 — 33

3-point field goals — GIL 1 (Hawthorne). Rebounds — SH 24 (Diersen 8). Steals — SH 4 (Diersen 2). Assists — SH 1. Turnovers — SH 24. Team fouls — GIL 24, SH 18. Fouled out — none.

DFJ photo/Troy Banning