Basketball Recap: Lili Andrade-Tellez's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Kearns over Hillcrest

Kearns was the 50-26 winner over Hillcrest when they last played one another back in November of 2023, but their luck changed this time around. The Kearns Cougars fell just short of the Hillcrest Huskies by a score of 53-51 on Friday. The Cougars were up 23-8 in the second quarter but couldn't hold on to the lead.

Kearns lost despite a true team effort on offense, the best among them being Lili Andrade-Tellez, who went 5 for 6 on her way to 10 points and six rebounds. The dominant performance gave Andrade-Tellez a new career-high in points. The team also got some help courtesy of Mina Kinikini, who posted 12 points and seven rebounds.

Even though they lost, Kearns smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 16 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least 15 offensive boards in five consecutive games.

Addison Back had a dynamite game for Hillcrest, going 7 of 10 on her way to 19 points in addition to six steals and five boards. Back is crushing it when it comes to steals: she's grabbed at least two every time she's taken the court this season. The team also got some help courtesy of Josie Haddock, who had ten points.

Kearns has traveled a rocky road recently having lost three of their last four contests, which put a noticeable dent in their 2-4 record this season. As for Hillcrest, they now have a winning record of 4-3.

Kearns will host Bonneville at 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday. Bonneville will roll in looking for their fourth straight victory, something Kearns surely won't give up without a fight. As for Hillcrest, they will head out to face off against Stansbury at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday.