After her team's lackluster showing in the first half last night, Hammond forward Rene Hines said her team needed a wake-up call. And she sounded the alarm.
Hines sparked a third-quarter blitz from No. 4 Hammond with 11 of her game-high 17 points as the Bears rallied for a 56-47 victory over host and No. 6 Old Mill.
Hammond (3-2) struggled -- as it often has recently -- with its shooting touch in the first half. The Bears were only 10-for-31 from the floor, and Old Mill (3-1) took a 28-21 lead at halftime.
But the third quarter was a different story. The Bears missed three of their first five shots, but they rebounded to make nine of their next 11 in a 20-8 run.
"We really thought we could beat this team," said Hines, who had 14 rebounds. "Hammond is all about hustling, and they were out-hustling us."
Hines also said the team may have needed a boost after tough losses to No. 1 Western and No. 2 Lake Clifton. She certainly helped boost the Bears with five baskets in the third quarter, all on fast breaks.
Hammond coach Joe Russo moved Hines to the wing on fast breaks in the third quarter. She had been on the baseline in the first half, but this move paid off as Tikki Nicholson (10 points, 10 rebounds) pushed the fast break hard in the third quarter.
The Bears took advantage of a 41-21 rebounding edge to get numerous fast breaks. They rarely converted, however, in the first half.
In the second half -- and especially in the third quarter -- when Hammond broke the Old Mill press, it often scored. Hines, Nicholson, Kellye Townsend (13 points, nine rebounds) and Tameka Harrison made the game look like a track meet.
Harrison (12 points) provided a big spark. With Hammond down 30-26 early in the third quarter, she sank back-to-back three pointers to give the Bears the lead. They never trailed again.
"Finally, we got everything together," said Russo. "Everyone was playing hard."
The Bears outscored Old Mill 25-10 in the third quarter as they hit 11 of 16 from the field. They made 15 of 25 overall in the second half. Despite the fact they made only two baskets in the final 4:36, they remained in control.
That's because they played tough defense and Old Mill went cold from the field. The Patriots hit only 20 of 69, missing 12 of their last 13 shots. Old Mill scored just one basket in the final 4:52 and could not threaten.
Dana Dawson (12 points) and Holly Shaffer (12 points) led the way for Old Mill. The Patriots also got help from Tiffany Slade (seven points) and Tinnell Slade (six points).
Dawson sparked the early Old Mill success. She scored eight straight Patriots points as Old Mills jumped to an 11-4 lead. But the Bears kept the game close until it was Hammond time in the third quarter.