The Heritage Christian Academy girls’ basketball team waged a defensive battle with visiting Oak Ridge Christian on Saturday, falling 39-29 in a matchup between the two top teams in the KCAA.
The loss is the third for the Lady Warriors against Oak Ridge this season, their only KCAA setbacks so far. Oak Ridge improved to 14-0, while HCA slipped to 7-3.
Hallie Zieg knocked down a three-pointer for an early HCA lead, and Rachel Robson’s bucket in the lane made it 7-6 after the first quarter.
With the game tied at 13-13 with just over two minutes left in the first half, back-to-back Oak Ridge baskets pushed it in front before Robson cut the margin to two points with a jumper to close the half.
The Lady Warriors trailed by as many as five in the third quarter before a three-point play and one of two free throws by Liana Carr cut it to two points with a quarter to play.
Zieg tied the game twice in the first three minutes of the fourth, but Oak Ridge closed with a 13-4 run to secure the win.
Zieg was the lone Lady Warrior in double figures with 11. Fellow seniors Robson had eight, and Carr and Bailey Craft each scored four.
HCA will close out its KHSAA schedule with a trip to St. Mary on Monday before beginning the chase for a KCAA state title later this month.
Oak Ridge 6 11 6 16 — 39
Heritage 7 8 6 8 — 29
Oak Ridge (14-0) — Z. Cardwell 12, C. Cardwell 11, Burden 8, Cooper 4, Alford 2, Asbridge 2
Heritage (7-3) — Zieg 11, Robson 8, Carr 4, Craft 4, Cherry 2
