Helena knocks off Chelsea
A back-and-forth game swung in the favor of the Huskies at the end, as the Helena High School boys basketball team knocked off Chelsea, 43-40, in a Class 6A, Area 8 battle on Tuesday night.
Holding just a three-point lead with less than two minutes to go, Helena’s Jon Brown drove baseline and threw down a ferocious dunk to increase that lead to five, and the Huskies would hold on from there.
Chelsea (15-8, 0-2 area) had a chance to tie at the end, but Joseph Lanzi’s 3-point attempt went begging. Just moments prior, Lanzi drained a 3 to bring the Hornets within a basket at 42-40. Helena’s Justin Stuckey made 1-of-2 subsequent free throws, leaving the door open for the Hornets at the end.
Helena jumped out to a 16-7 lead after a quarter of play before the Hornets turned the tables dramatically in the second period. Chelsea dominated Helena to the tune of 18-2 for the first 7:58 of the quarter, before the Huskies buried a 3-pointer at the buzzer to cut Chelsea’s lead to 25-21 at halftime.
The momentum swung each direction multiple times in the third quarter and early in the fourth, but Helena was able to hang on.
Lanzi finished the night with a team-high 15 points, as he converted a trifecta of 3-point makes. Josh Hanna scored eight points on the night, followed by six from Jonah Moore.
Stuckey led the Huskies with 22 points, and Jon Brown added 12.
LADY HORNETS FALL
The first play of the game worked to perfection for the Chelsea High School girls basketball team, but it was an uphill battle the rest of the way, as the Lady Hornets fell to Helena, 61-47, in a Class 6A, Area 8 matchup on Tuesday night.
Chelsea (12-10, 1-1 area) won the opening tip, resulting in an Allie Miller layup. However, the Lady Huskies went on a 16-2 run immediately afterwards to take a commanding first quarter lead. Jordan Parker rattled in a 3-pointer to break the run, but Helena led 22-7 following just a period of play.
Chelsea was bitten by the turnover bug, especially early in the contest, as errant passes allowed Helena fast break opportunities and easy baskets.
The Lady Hornets did respond, and outscored Helena 11-7 in the second quarter. Miller’s 3-pointer and her steal leading to a Michaella Edwards layup cut the Lady Husky lead to seven, before a buzzer-beating 3 at the horn sent Helena to the locker rom with a 29-18 edge.
The third quarter was Chelsea’s best offensive period, as the Lady Hornets scored 17 points. Hope Richard and Edwards each converted three-point plays to get the deficit down to 10 twice, but Helena held on in the final frame.
Edwards led the way for Chelsea with 24 points, followed by Miller’s eight points. Richard scored six. Jordan Jones led Helena with 15 points, followed by Mary Laatsch's 14.
Both Chelsea teams are back in action Thursday, as the Hornets visit Leeds.
OTHER AREA ACTION
Spain Park and Oak Mountain each played in other hoops action across the region on Tuesday night.
The Lady Jaguars took down Mountain Brook convincingly, 62-36. The boys ended the Spartans' long home winning streak, knocking off Mountain Brook, 66-62. You can read more from both of those games here.
Oak Mountain's boys and girls split with Huffman. The Lady Eagles took a 46-40 victory, while Huffman won the boys matchup, 60-50.