Photo by Chad Koenen
Lily Fraki tries to steal a ball from a Perham player during Tuesday’s regular season opener in Henning. 

The Henning girls basketball team got their season off to a start last week with two non-conference games and ended up going 1-1 in those.  This coming week the girls will have two more games, hosting Menahga for their first conference game of the season on Tuesday night, before traveling to Pillager on Friday night for another conference game.  

Tuesday vs. Perham 69-64 lost

Henning hosted Perham in our first game of the season. The Yellowjackets have a real solid team who is ranked in the top 15 for Class AA in the preseason rankings. The girls got off to a great start early on as they built up an 8 point lead at one point in the first half, before holding a 29-27 lead at halftime.  

Lyvia Misegades had a great half with 16 points and Ally Hart, Aaliyah Olson and Natalie Eckhoff all hit big 3-pointers to help out.  

The second half continued to be a fast-paced and back and forth battle with both teams upping their offensive output, but Perham was ultimately able to take a late lead. The Hornets had to foul a couple times before losing by the final score of 69-64.  

Head coach Mike Hepola said he was really proud of the girls overall effort against a quality opponent. They just weren’t able to make enough shots late in the game.  

Misegades finished the game with an impressive double-double of 34 points and 17 rebounds. Hart joined her in double-figure scoring finishing with 13 points.  

Faith Fisher led with 4 assists and also 2 steals while Misegades also had 2 steals. Rounding out the scoring was Fisher with 7 pts, Olson and Natalie Eckhoff both with 3 points and Becca Frederick and Ava Eckhoff both with 2 points each.  

Photo by Chad Koenen
Ava Eckhoff defends a Perham player during Tuesday’s regular season opener in Henning. 

Individual stats

Faith Fisher 7 pts, 4 assists, 2 steals

Becca Frederick 2 pts, 9 rebounds, 2 assists

Lily Fraki 1 rebound

Ally Hart 13 pts, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block

Aaliyah Olson 3 pts, 3 rebounds

Natalie Eckhoff 3 pts, 2 rebounds, 2 assists

Lyvia Misegades 34 pts, 17 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks  

Ava Eckhoff 2 pts

Thursday  at Battle Lake 77-37 win

On Thursday the Hornets traveled to Battle Lake for their first road game of the season. 

In the first half Henning didn’t do a terrible job offensively, but they gave up way too many points, especially on free throws before holding a slight 32-25 lead. Ally Hart was the main scorer in the first half as she had 16 points including, three 3-pointers, while Faith Fisher had a solid half with 9 points.  

The second half the Hornets did a much better job defensively and that got their offense going as well, leading to a 77-37 win.  Unfortunately after that great first half, Henning lost Hart to an ankle injury early in the second half, but others stepped up and Lyvia Misegades led the way with 18 second half points ,while fellow junior Alivia Gunderson did a great job in her season debut finishing the half with 8 points. Head coach Mike Hepola said it was a great overall team effort as all of the healthy players got into the game and contributed.  

Henning had three players finish in double-figure scoring as Misegades finished with a team-high 22 points followed by Hart with 18 and Fisher with 16. Gunderson had 8 points, while Gretchen Eckhoff 4 points, Natalie Eckhoff 3, Becca Frederick, Aaliyah Olson and Ava Eckhoff all with 2 points rounded out the scoring. 

Misegades and Fisher led the team with 8 and 7 rebounds respectively, while also both leading the team with 5 steals each.  Fisher also led the team with 4 assists.   

Individual stats

Faith Fisher 16 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals

Becca Frederick 2 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Ally Hart 18 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals

Aaliyah Olson 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist

Gretchen Eckhoff 4 points, 1 assist

Natalie Eckhoff 3 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals

Lyvia Misegades 22 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 steals

Ava Eckhoff 2 points, 3 rebounds

Alivia Gunderson 8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal