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Herzing helps Hampshire hold off Dundee-Crown

With Hampshire and Dundee-Crown both in the double bonus about halfway through the fourth quarter on Tuesday, Whip-Purs girls basketball coach Eric Samuelson made it known exactly where he wanted the ball to go.

"Ashley Herzing came up huge," Samuelson said. "I think I called three timeouts to tell them to try and get her the ball."

The Whips sophomore guard was almost perfect at the free-throw line, hitting 9-of-10 free throws in the fourth quarter and 11-of-12 overall. Herzing's clutch shooting helped the Whip-Purs past the Chargers, 52-44, in their Fox Valley Conference game.

Herzing had a game-high 18 points for the Whips (5-5, 1-3 FVC), despite ending with only three made field goals. Twelve of her 18 points came in the fourth quarter with the Chargers making a furious comeback attempt.

"I love shooting free throws," Herzing said. "When I know my team can count on me, it makes me feel amazing. Dundee-Crown plays really hard. They were very physical. When it comes down to those last shots, you've got to make them."

Hampshire had a seemingly comfortable 36-25 lead going into the fourth quarter and extended it to 39-25 on a 3 by Herzing. A putback by Avery Cartee (seven points, two blocks, four steals) made it 41-25.

That's when the Chargers started to chip away.

D-C (1-5, 0-2) went on a 10-1 run to cut Hampshire's lead to 42-35, getting a pair of buckets and a free throw from Monica Sierzputowski (12 points, five rebounds), a 3 from Thea Mercado, and two free throws from Kate Raby.

After Herzing made two free throws with 3:45 to go, the Chargers got another 3 from Mercado and a bucket from Kendall Brents, making it 44-40.

From that point, Hampshire outscored D-C, 8-4. Hampshire's Kaitlyn Milison took a charge with the Whips leading 46-40, which was the fifth foul from Sierzputowski. Raby had fouled out about two minutes earlier.

Samuelson also pointed to the effort from Hampshire's Jaden Szymonik, who gave the Whips a 13-11 lead after making 3-of-4 free throws about halfway through the second quarter. Szymonik hit the first free throw and missed her second, but grabbed the offensive rebound. She was fouled again before making her next two.

Hampshire didn't trail from that point.

The teams combined for 47 fouls in a physical game both ways.

"I love and hate playing [D-C coach Sarah Teipel's teams] because I always know it's going to be a really good physical game, and you never what's going to happen," Samuelson said. "Both teams played really hard, and I actually thought her team outplayed us as far as physically for a good portion."

In addition to foul trouble, D-C played without starting guard Marrasia Harthrone for almost three full quarters. Harthrone went down with an injury at the start of the second and had to be helped off the court. She had her right knee taped and was on crutches after the game.

Teipel was proud of her players for fighting back. She thought her team rallied around the injury to Harthrone.

"We believe that when we're down, we can battle back against anyone, Teipel said. "I was very proud of them for keeping the energy through some of the lulls tonight. It just felt like there was no change in body language. When we had a timeout, chins were up."

Cartee felt the Whips did a good job of not backing down.

"Dundee-Crown is always physical and they always plays good defense," Cartee said. "It was important for us to stay strong and execute our plays."

Brents finished with 12 points for D-C and Mercado had nine. Whitney Thompson added eight points and Chloe Van Horn had seven for Hampshire.

Dundee-Crown's Markasia Harthrone dribbles past Hampshire defender Jaden Szymonik during their game on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at Hampshire High School. Ryan Rayburn for Shaw Local Ryan Rayburn/for Shaw Local
Hampshire's Whitney Thompson pushes past Dundee-Crown's Markasia Harthrone Tuesday at Hampshire. Ryan Rayburn/for Shaw Local
Dundee-Crown's Katherine Raby shoots over Hampshire's Ceili Ramirez during their game on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at Hampshire High School. Ryan Rayburn for Shaw Local Ryan Rayburn/for Shaw Local
Hampshire's Lia Saunders dribbles the ball past Dundee-Crown's Theriz Andrea Mercado during their game on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at Hampshire High School. Ryan Rayburn for Shaw Local Ryan Rayburn/for Shaw Local
Hampshire's Avery Cartee looks to get past Dundee-Crown's Katherine Raby during their game on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at Hampshire High School. Ryan Rayburn for Shaw Local Ryan Rayburn/for Shaw Local
Dundee-Crown's Katherine Raby looks to pass past Hampshire's Kaitlyn Milison during their game on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at Hampshire High School. Ryan Rayburn for Shaw Local Ryan Rayburn/for Shaw Local
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