HONAKER, Va. – The 2023 basketball season for the Honaker Tigers girls basketball team ended with an upset loss to the J.I. Burton Raiders in the Region 1D semifinals.
Honaker coach Misty Davis Miller remembered.
“We actually showed the film of that game before our first practice this season,” Miller said. “I wanted the girls to have that bitter taste.”
With 5-foot-1 junior point guard Kalli Miller directing the offense with precision, the Tigers gained the sweet taste of victory Tuesday with a 62-39 decision over the Raiders in the Region 1D quarterfinal round.
Was Kalli Miller motivated by that upset loss to Burton?
“Definitely. That game hurt basically until we gained revenge tonight,” Miller said.
Six-foot-junior forward Alayna McNulty led the Tigers with 25 points and three assists despite balancing four fouls much of the night.
J.I. BURTON (39) – Branham 0 0-0 0, Phipps 0 4-6 4, Hammons 2 2-4 7, Henderson 0 0-0 0, Absher 4 0-0 8, Fields 0 1-2 1, Williams 6 1-2 15, Sensabaugh 2 0-2 4. Totals 12 8-16 39.
HONAKER (62) – Jessee 3 3-4 9, McNulty 11 3-4 25, Nolley 7 0-0 17, Miller 2 1-1 6, Ray 0 0-0 0, C. Keene 1 0-0 3, Musick 0 0-0 0, Farmer 1 0-0 2, K. Keen 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 7-9 62.
J.I. Burton 14 11 8 6-39
Honaker 14 20 17 11-62
3-point goals – B 3 (Williams 2, Hammons), H 5 (Nolley 3, Miller, Keene) Total fouls – B 14, H 10. Fouled out – none.
BOYS
Honaker 68, Twin Springs 28
Honaker’s Parker Bandy made a big football decision last week.
On Tuesday, the 6-foot-1 senior forward played his best-ever game in basketball.
Meet a feature receiver at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise.
“Making my college choice after weighing several schools was definitely a relief,” Bandy said. “I’m excited to get to Wise, but right now I’m focused on basketball.”
The speed and athletic ability of Bandy was evident Tuesday. Scoring mostly on transition layups, Bandy connected for a career-high 31 points as the Tigers cruised to another win.
TWIN SPRINGS (28) – Dingus 1-2 3, Dunn 1 1-4 3, Ross 0 0-0 0, Pascual 0 0-0 0, Kilgore 2 0-2 4, Weddle 0 0-0 0, Thomas 0 1-2 1, Berry 0 0-0 0, Hughes 3 1-2 7, Wallace 2 0-0 4, Cox 2 0-0 6. Totals 11 4-12 28.
HONAKER (68) – P. Musick 3 0-2 6, C. Musick1 0-1 2, Gill 0 0-0 0, Keene 4 3-4 13, A. Lowe 5 0-2 10, M. Lowe 1 1-3 3, A. Musick 0 0-0 0, Hart 1 0-0 3, Bandy 15 1-1 31. Totals 30 5-13 68.
Twin Springs 3 6 8 11-28
Honaker 19 23 17 9-68
3-point goals – TS 2 (Cox), H 3 (Keene 2, Hart). Total fouls – TS 17, H 16. Fouled out – Dingus.