If the Hillcrest Jaguars were riding high off their 51-27 takedown of the W.S. Neal Eagles last Tuesday, their most recent game may have dampened their spirits a bit. Hillcrest took a hard 36-21 fall against Straughn on Thursday. Hillcrest has struggled against Straughn recently, as their matchup on Thursday was their fifth consecutive lost matchup.
Hillcrest's defeat came despite a true team effort from the offense, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Ashlyn Kiser, who scored eight points along with ten rebounds and four steals. Kiser hasn't dropped below two steals for three straight games. Sonija Evans was another key contributor, scoring a point along with six steals and five rebounds.
Even though they lost, Hillcrest smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 27 offensive rebounds. That's the most offensive rebounds they've managed all season.
Straughn found their leader in underclassman Allyx Williamson, who scored 16 points along with nine rebounds and three steals. Williamson continues to roll, besting her previous point total in each of the last three games she's played.
Hillcrest has traveled a rocky road recently, as they've lost three of their last four matches, which put a noticeable dent in their 5-10 record this season. As for Straughn, the victory was the fourth in a row for them, bringing their record for this year to 13-6.
Both squads are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Hillcrest will play host again and welcome Shields, where tip off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. The matchup should be an exciting one, as these teams are ranked near one another in Alabama (Shields is ranked 292nd, while Hillcrest is ranked 283rd). Straughn won't have much time to rest: their next matchup is against Georgiana at 5:30 p.m. on January 12th. One thing working in Georgiana's favor is that they have posted big point totals in their last three contests.
