Fort Calhoun High School girls basketball freshman Dehlia Hallberg said her coach made a valid point between the third and fourth periods Tuesday.
The Pioneers had cut their eight-point halftime deficit against Yutan to two during the third quarter, but coach Eric Jones wasn't satisfied.
“Obviously, we were doing good, but he just thought we had more in us and we could do better,” Hallberg said.
Sure enough, Jones was right. FCHS outscored the Chieftains 15-6 during the fourth period and won by seven points, 45-38. The victory extended the Pioneers' season-opening winning streak to five games.
“(Coach Jones) was just like, 'I know you guys have more fire in you,'” Hallberg said of the pep talk between quarters. “'I know you can work better as a team.'”
The freshman herself had more to give across the final 8 minutes of game time, too. Scoreless through three quarters with two free throw misses, the ninth-grader exploded for nine points down the stretch.
Hallberg scored Calhoun's first bucket of the final period, tying the game at 32-32, before adding the go-ahead basket off of a Yutan turnover.
The first-year guard added a 3-point make at 37-32 before also adding the Pioneers' 38th and 39th points on another bucket.
Hallberg said her teammates deserved credit for staying on her side through early offensive struggles.
“They were there,” she said. “They were just pushing me through all of the rough times I had in the couple of first quarters.”
FCHS sophomore Raeann Massey added her own bucket at 41-34 before Hallberg assisted Ansley Elofson on a fast break score at 43-36.
“I just really kicked it in and got out of my head,” said the Pioneers' freshman after her breakout fourth quarter.
Altogether, Elofson led Fort Calhoun with 15 points in its fifth win in five tries this season. Massey added 11 to go with Hallberg's nine as well as Maelie Nelson's four points.
Jovi Grenier scored four points for the Pioneers, too, while Isabel Wray scored a 2-point basket during the second period.
FCHS tries to extend its winning streak to six games today against David City. The home game tips off at 6 p.m.
FCHS BASKETBALL LINE SCORE
Tuesday
Fort Calhoun 45, Yutan 38
YHS (3-2) 13 12 7 6 — 38
FCHS (5-0) 9 8 13 15 — 45
Scoring: FCHS — Ansley Elofson 15, Raeann Massey 11, Dehlia Hallberg 9, Maelie Nelson 4, Jovi Grenier 4, Isabel Wray 2.
YHS — Amelia Dieckman 12, Addi Jones 9, Jenna Trent 8, Mylee Tichota 6, Allison Kirchmann 3.
