UPDATE: In a dramatic turn of events, the Farmington Knights overcame a sluggish start to narrowly defeat the Hazelwood West Wildcats, 64-58, on Wednesday night. The thrilling victory was marked by a potent fourth-quarter performance, showcasing crucial plays and standout individual efforts.
Farmington, trailing by as much as 12 points early in the game, saw their fortunes change thanks to Madison Clay, who scored 11 of her 18 points in the final stretch. With just minutes remaining, Kate Jenkerson assisted Clay on three pivotal baskets that propelled the Knights to victory.
The Knights began the game sluggishly, falling behind 20-8 after the first quarter. However, a fierce defensive effort limited Hazelwood West to just seven points in both the second and third quarters. At halftime, the Knights found themselves down 27-23, but rallied with a series of strong plays.
The game featured intense back-and-forth action, including a lone lead change when Ella Scott put the Wildcats ahead 33-30 with a three-pointer. Yet, Farmington surged back, with Lila Roth contributing 15 points and critical baskets from Jenkerson and Klinkhardt to reclaim the lead.
The Wildcats’ star, Jamiah Herring, delivered an impressive performance, scoring 31 points and making 15 of 15 free throws. Despite her efforts, Hazelwood West struggled with their shooting, finishing the game with a free throw percentage of 84%, compared to Farmington’s 57%.
This thrilling win improves Farmington’s record to 3-0 for the season, while Hazelwood West drops to 0-2. The game served as a potent reminder of the competitive spirit in the league, with both teams showcasing their skills under pressure.
As the season progresses, fans can expect more high-stakes matchups as teams vie for dominance in the league. Keep an eye on upcoming games to see if Farmington can maintain their winning streak and how Hazelwood West will rebound from this close defeat.
In other games Wednesday night, the North County Lady Raiders defeated Steelville 68-45, while the West County Lady Bulldogs overwhelmed Kingston 69-11. The Valley Tournament continues to showcase intense competition as teams fight for supremacy on the court.
