The third-ranked Hinton girls basketball team steamrolled to the region final with a 76-21 drubbing of IKM-Manning in Hinton on Friday night.
If there is something that can be done well on the basketball court, the Blackhawks probably did it well. They held the Wolves to just six points in the first half while making their first five threes of the game. Head coach Matt Leary says it was an all-out strong performance.
It was evident that Hinton was playing at another gear at the start of the game. Coach Leary says that comes from their drive and preparation for the game.
The Blackhawks were up 43-6 at the half and could have taken the second half off and coasted into the region final. However, that would not prepare them well for the grueling games they might play in the region final or at the state tournament. Coach Leary says the girls were motivated to keep playing hard in the second half.
Hinton will now take on No. 12 Westwood in the region final on Wednesday night at Bishop Heelan. Hinton has not made the state tournament since 2009, and Coach Leary has not taken them to state since 2004. The Blackhawks beat Westwood convincingly earlier in the year, and Coach Leary says it will take another fundamentally sound game to get it done this time.
Tip-off for that game will be at 7:00 PM in Sioux City. KLEM will broadcast the game live with coverage beginning at 6:45 PM.
