Hiland dominates Indian Valley, shows balanced attack and defense

Hiland turned in a comprehensive performance in a 61 to 20 Inter Valley Conference victory over Indian Valley on December 6. The margin underscored the Lady Hawks defensive presence and an offense that received contributions from multiple players, a combination that should matter in the weeks ahead as the team navigates the conference schedule.

Senior guard Reagan Zerger led the Hiland scoring with 15 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Guard Macy Mullet continued a productive stretch, finishing with nine points, five rebounds, six assists and four steals in the Indian Valley contest. Forward Evie Mast added 10 points and guard Perryn Mishler contributed eight points, three assists and three steals, reinforcing the team balance that Hiland coaches have emphasized.

The Indian Valley win followed a difficult nonleague outing at Laurel on December 3, where Hiland fell 85 to 56. In that game Mullet and Mishler each scored 14 points, and Zerger finished with seven points and nine rebounds. The Laurel game exposed areas for improvement on the defensive end against a high scoring opponent, but the subsequent conference victory showed the team addressing those issues with a more cohesive effort.

For local residents the results matter for several reasons. Conference games determine seeding and rivalries that shape the latter part of the season, and a lopsided conference win can build confidence within a roster that has shown offensive balance and defensive playmaking. The statistical contributions from multiple players suggest the Lady Hawks are not reliant on a single scorer, which increases resilience against injuries and matchup problems.

As Hiland continues IVC play the emphasis will likely be on maintaining defensive intensity while sustaining the distribution of scoring seen against Indian Valley. For fans and community supporters the recent performances provide reason to watch the schedule closely, as the team seeks to translate balanced box scores into consistent results in the heart of the Inter Valley Conference season.