EMORY, Va. – How does veteran coach Misty Miller keep the Honaker girls basketball team motivated when they are winning by such lopsided scores?
“We just want to keep working hard every day. I push them hard in practice and they have been giving me 110 percent,” said Miller, whose Tigers defeated Patrick Henry 70-13 for a Hogoheegee District road win on Tuesday night. “Our motto right now is we just want to get a little bit better every day. I am pleased with their progress and I just want to see them keep working hard.”
Honaker did just that against the Rebels, taking a 28-2 lead after one quarter and 48-4 at halftime. Girls basketball in the Hogoheegee is full of youth and inexperience, while the Tigers joined the league this season after winning three state Class 1 state championships before losing in the regionals last year to J.I. Burton.
“We just want to come out and play hard,” Miller said. “I told them to keep their eye on the prize of what they are looking for. We just want to keep improving by the time we get to postseason and give it our all every game.”
Four Tigers scored in double figures, led by Tailor Nolley with 21 points, Alayna McNulty with 15, Kalli Miller added 13 and Kate Jessee finished with 10. Kiley Ray added seven.
HONAKER (70)
Jessee 4 2-4 10, McNulty 5 4-4 15, Nolley 9 1-2 21, K.Miller 6 1-2 13, Ray 3 0-0 7, Keene 1 0-0 2, Farmer 1 0-0 2, Keen 0 0-0 0. Totals 29 8-12 70.
PATRICK HENRY (13)
Addair 1 0-0 2, Riley 0 0-0 0, Wright 2 0-0 5, Wallace 0 0-0 0, Barr 0 0-0 0, Cook 2 0-0 4, L.Miller 1 0-0 2, Buckley 1 0-0 0, Yarber 0 0-0 0. Totals 6 0-0 13.
Honaker 28 18 18 6 – 70
Patrick Henry 2 2 2 7 – 13
3-point goals: HK 4 (Nolley 2, McNulty, Ray); PH 1 (Wright). Total fouls: HK 7 PH 12; Fouled out: none. Technicals: none.