Without the services of freshman point guard Makena Galetich, the Hawks crumbled under the pressure applied by ninth-ranked (Class 3A) Roland-Story. The Norsemen, who are unbeaten in the Heart of Iowa Conference, stormed out to a double-digit lead in a blink and cruised to a 60-27 victory.

Galetich — South Hamilton’s leader in scoring (9.8 points per game) and steals (3.5 per game) — suffered an injury to her left knee during her team’s win over Saydel on Saturday. An MRI has been scheduled and the fear is a torn ACL, an injury that would not only cost her the remainder of the basketball season, but also the upcoming track and field and softball seasons.

“I’m devastated for her because Makena is a coach’s dream,” South Hamilton head coach Mark Henderson said. “She’s just a great kid, a great competitor, a hard worker and somebody who doesn’t deserve to go down like that. But I know she’ll do the right things in rehab and work her way back, and she still has a lot of things in front of her.”

South Hamilton point guards haven’t had much luck recently. Hallee Feaker, a sophomore and the team’s leading scorer last winter, suffered a similar injury last summer that cost her this season.

South Hamilton freshman Tanna Thompson (back) forces a jump ball during the second half against Roland-Story on Tuesday. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Losing Galetich at any point would have been debilitating. But to have it happen just days before facing Roland-Story? That’s bad luck heaped upon bad luck.

“For right now, for our team, it’s a killer blow,” Henderson said. “Before the game the girls’ heads were a little down before we even took the court just because they’re so used to everything Makena does for our team. Losing her is more than losing just one player. She barely came out of the game, she was our primary ball handler and everything ran through her. So it’s tough for everybody.”

Roland-Story (12-4, 9-0 HOIC) took advantage of the Hawks’ ball-handling woes and forced 22 turnovers, the majority caused by full-court pressure. It was carnage early, as the Norsemen raced out to a 23-6 lead after one quarter. Reagan Barkema put an exclamation on the period with a dagger 3-pointer from the top of the key at the buzzer, and she scored 17 of her game-high 23 points in the first half.

Barkema outscored South Hamilton by eight points in the opening half.

“Going against their press is always tough and (Tuesday night) it was just compounded,” Henderson said. “But (Roland-Story) gets you sped up, gets your hearts pounding, and you either break it or you break yourself.”

DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Caleigh Hewitt scored eight points, yanked down five rebounds and came up with two steals for South Hamilton (10-8, 4-5 HOIC). Tanna Thompson, Mackenzy Grady and Zoey Duns all scored four points and Emma Lewis finished with three points and five boards.

Barkema buried three of Roland-Story’s eight 3-point baskets. Reece Johnson rained in a pair of triples and scored eight points. Madeline Morton added seven more points.

South Hamilton will be back on its home floor Friday evening against West Marshall. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.

Roland-Story 60, S. Hamilton 27

Tuesday at Story City

DFJ photo/Troy Banning

South Hamilton (10-8, 4-5 HOIC) — Tanna Thompson 2 0-0 4, Emma Lewis 1 0-1 3, Abby Ervin 0 0-0 0, Caleigh Hewitt 4 0-0 8, Mackenzy Grady 1 1-2 4, Aspen Wibholm 0 0-0 0, Zoey Duns 1 2-4 4, Ashlyn Erickson 1 1-2 3, Grace Neuberger 0 1-2 1. Totals: 10 5-11 27.

Roland-Story (12-4, 9-0 HOIC) — Ava Charlson 0 3-4 3, Jordyn Ramus 1 0-0 3, Reece Johnson 3 0-0 8, Ellie Erickson 1 0-0 2, Madeline Morton 2 2-2 7, Jadyn Nelson 2 2-2 6, Dani Grady 1 0-0 2, Reagan Barkema 10 0-0 23, Elizabeth Ihle 0 1-4 1, Madi Bauer 1 0-0 3, Madison Martindale 1 0-2 2. Totals: 22 8-14 60.

S. Ham 6 3 10 8 — 27

Rol-Story 23 12 15 10 — 60

3-point field goals — SH 2 (Lewis, Grady); R-S 8 (Barkema 3, Johnson 2, Ramus, Morton, Bauer). Rebounds — SH 24 (Lewis 5, Hewitt 5). Steals — SH 4 (Hewitt 2). Assists — SH 3. Turnovers — SH 22. Team fouls — SH 9, R-S 14.. Fouled out — none.

DFJ photo/Troy Banning