Miller, Schlabach lead Hiland

By KEVIN LYNCH
Daily Record Sports Writer

BERLIN — Hiland coach Dave Schlabach is anxiously awaiting the game when all of his players perform at the high level of play he is used to. Until then, he will have to take the few shining moments turned in by various players in different games.

On Wednesday at the Perry Reese Jr. Community Center, it was the inspired play of McKenzie Miller and some timely 3-point shots by Kendra Schlabach that helped the Hawks turn things around in the second half and pummel the visiting Tigers of Strasburg 46-24 in an Inter-Valley Conference tilt.

Miller paced Hiland with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Schlabach added 13 points. Each hit a trio of 3-pointers.

"Once again, tonight epitomizes our season. We get one or two kids who play well, and three or four who really struggle," said Schlabach. "We got good games from McKenzie, Kendra, and Ashley Weaver played well defensively. But we had three or four other kids struggling at the same time. But we're doing enough things to win."

After a 7-0 start led to a 12-4 Hiland lead following one quarter, Strasburg picked up the defensive intensity in the second stanza. Hiland managed only one field goal in the period as the Tigers clawed their way back into the game, trailing 14-9 at intermission.

Strasburg's Mackenzie Colombo scored a three-point play the old fashioned way to trim the lead to two early in the third quarter, but McKenzie Miller scored five straight, including a three-point play of her own to stretch the lead back to 19-12. The junior stroked a 3-pointer to give Hiland a 22-14 advantage. Bria Coil followed with a stickback and Hiland was back up by 10.

Miller made a steal and was nearly tackled on her way to the hoop, drawing a flagrant foul call and a technical on the Strasburg coach Brenton Bonanno. Schlabach came off the bench and stroked the resulting four free throws to give Hiland a 28-14 lead.

Emily Yoder scored on a breakaway layup and the Hawks led 30-14 with a minute remaining in the third quarter. That took most of the remaining air out of the Tigers.

"This was the first game where McKenzie played like the leader I felt she was capable of being," Schlabach said. "She kind of took over the game there in the third quarter."

The win improved the Hawks' record to 9-1 on the season, 8-1 in the IVC.