Girls’ Basketball

Harpursville 34, Oxford 31

OXFORD – Playing for a chance to clinch at least a tie for the MAC Division II title, the Blackhawks dropped their first league game of the season on Wednesday, and had their nine-game winning streak snapped as well.

Hannah Kimmel came alive in the second half scored 14 of her 20 points, and she netted 10 in the last quarter to fuel her team’s comeback win. “We held Hannah in check most of the game, but big-time players step up and make plays when they need to,” said Oxford coach Chris Palmer of Kimmel.

Oxford’s first quarter was perhaps its best quarter of basketball all season, especially considering the lofty opposition. Haley Witchella had five in the first quarter, Julie Heggie hit two outside shots, and Ginny Burdick hit a short-range spot-up shot as Oxford led 14-5. The Blackhawks carried a 22-13 lead into halftime behind 11 points from Witchella.

“We came out and shot the ball with a lot of confidence at the start of the game,” Palmer said. “As the game progressed, we lost a little of that, and were a little shaky. It showed in our shooting.”