UPDATE: In a shocking turn of events, the New Hampton Chickasaws suffered a devastating 65-43 defeat against the North Fayette Valley TigerHawks during the opening round of the Class 2A district tournament on February 12, 2024. Just days prior, New Hampton had convincingly defeated NFV, but last night, everything changed as the TigerHawks outscored the Chickasaws 27-8 in the fourth quarter, sealing their fate.
The Chickasaws entered the game with high hopes, having secured victories over NFV earlier in the season, but last night was a different story. After a promising start with a 4-1 lead, New Hampton quickly fell behind as the TigerHawks launched a 16-3 run and never looked back. New Hampton head coach Ryan Rausch expressed disbelief at the unexpected outcome, stating, “I felt like I had a really good thumb on the pulse of this team.”
Despite the Chickasaws’ efforts to rally, foul troubles plagued New Hampton from the beginning. Sophomore star Carson Laures was sidelined early due to fouls, hampering the team’s game plan. Rausch lamented, “Anytime you have a guy like Carson sitting on the bench, it just takes you out of your stuff.” The Chickasaws ended the first half trailing by just five points, but they struggled to maintain momentum.
As the game progressed, New Hampton found itself unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities, particularly from the free-throw line, where they converted only 13 of 23. With the score at 38-35 entering the final quarter, the Chickasaws were poised for a comeback. However, they were unable to score until midway through the fourth, allowing the TigerHawks to stretch their lead to 20 points.
New Hampton’s struggles were exemplified by their dismal shooting from beyond the arc, hitting only 2 of 23 three-point attempts. Rausch noted, “We got the looks all night we wanted, but we just didn’t knock them in.” The loss marks the end of the season for the Chickasaws, concluding with a record of 9-14.
This defeat is particularly painful for New Hampton, as it bids farewell to seven seniors, including standout players Caden Rochford and Dylen Schmitt. Rausch reflected on the season, saying, “I feel terrible for those guys, and I’m really proud of our seniors. They came so far as a group.” Despite the disappointment, the future looks bright for New Hampton, with four sophomore starters and several promising freshmen set to return next season.
As the dust settles on this unexpected loss, all eyes will be on the Chickasaws as they regroup and prepare for the future. Coach Rausch remains optimistic, stating, “It’s coming. We’re going to take off.”
Fans and followers of the Chickasaws are encouraged to share their support for the team as they move forward from this challenging season. Stay tuned for updates on New Hampton’s preparations for the next chapter.
