South Hamilton guard Makena Galetich (back) glides past South Central Calhoun’s Emma Anderson (22) on a fast break Tuesday night. DFJ photo/Angela Hewitt

ROCKWELL CITY — It was an early-season test the South Hamilton girls’ basketball team craved, and while the Hawks didn’t walk away smiling they weren’t demoralized either.

In the end, all it did was provide motivation.

Leading 20-17 at the half, South Hamilton was unable to keep the momentum after the intermission in a 53-47 loss to 13th-ranked (Class 2A) South Central Calhoun here Tuesday night. The Titans (2-0) erupted for 25 third-quarter points and built a double-digit lead before the Hawks (1-1) were able to right the ship and stay competitive the remainder of the way.

“We knew this would be an early-season test … so to be right there with a team like that is promising,” South Hamilton head coach Mark Henderson said. “At the same time we certainly didn’t play our best basketball, but a lot of our mistakes are correctable.”

SCC received 49 of its points from a trio of players. Riley Batta pumped in 20 to lead the way, Kylee Schleisman canned three 3-pointers on her way to 18, and Addisyn Korleski pitched in 11 more.

South Hamilton junior Hallee Feaker, who had the extra motivation of playing against many of her former teammates, erupted for 20 points herself and backcourt mate Makena Galetich finished with 12. Ashlyn Erickson (eight points) and Caleigh Hewitt (seven points) combined for 15 more.

Feaker also yanked down seven rebounds, two behind team leader Mackenzy Grady, and Galetich provided three steals and three assists. Grady also distributed three assists.

Neither team was particularly sturdy with the ball, as there were a combined 38 turnovers, including 25 in the first half. But SCC did enough in its multiple defensive sets to keep the Hawks at bay, particularly early in the third quarter.

“There was a little stretch in the third where we turned it over a couple of times and took quick shots, and they turned those into points at the other end,” Henderson said. “They switched up defenses quite a bit, which was something we weren’t expecting and I think that led to some confusion on offense. We only took 43 shots and I’d like that number to be closer to 60.”

SC Calhoun 53, S. Hamilton 47

Tuesday at Rockwell City

South Hamilton (1-1) — Makena Galetich 4 2-2 12, Ashlyn Erickson 2 4-4 8, Hallee Feaker 7 2-4 20, Caleigh Hewitt 3 0-0 7, Mackenzy Grady 0 0-0 0, Grace Neuberger 0 1-2 1, Madison Beaune 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 9-12 47.

South Central Calhoun (2-0) — Sophie McKinney 0 0-0 0, Addisyn Korleski 4 2-4 11, Riley Batta 9 2-3 20, Sayer Steig 2 0-0 4, Kylee Schleisman 7 1-3 18, Chloe Judisch 0 0-0 0, Emma Anderson 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 5-10 53.

S. Hamilton 5 15 14 13 — 47

SC Calhoun 10 7 25 11 — 53

3-point field goals — SH 6 (Feaker 4, Galetich 2); SCC 4 (Schleisman 3, Korleski). Rebounds — SH 34 (Grady 9, Feaker 7). Steals — SH 5 (Galetich 3). Assists — SH 8 (Galetich 3, Grady 3). Turnovers — SH 21. Team fouls — SH 13, SCC 16. Fouled out — none.