It was HUGE! Owls girls basketball hands Brandon-Evansville first loss of the season, 58-55 in OT

The Hancock Owls handed Brandon-Evansville their first loss of the season in a thrilling 58-55 overtime win on their home court. Hancock's outstanding junior guard, Bree Holleman, made two 3-pointers and two free throws in the overtime period to drop the 5th-ranked Class 1A Chargers to 21-1 overall. The 6th-ranked Owls improved to 17-3.

The hosts led 32-27 at halftime. Seven Owls hit the scoring column, and every point was needed in this huge team win for the injury-plagued Hancock girls basketball team.
(Two key players for Hancock are out indefinitely)

The Owls travel to Barnesville to end the regular season this Thursday (Feb 26) with a non-conference game. The Trojans are 7-17 overall and 6-12 in the Heart O' Lakes Conference.

Scoring: Bree Holleman 16, Lauren Nelson 12, Illissa Koehl 9, Hannah Newhouse 8, Kendra Schmidgall 7, Lindsie Cunningham 4, Shae Brown 2. 3-point shots: Holleman 4, Koehl 2. Rebound leaders: Schmidgall 9, Nelson 5, Cunningham 5, Holleman 5, Newhouse 5. Assist leaders: Nelson 4, Holleman 4. Steal leaders: Koehl 2, Nelson 2.

Owls drop a tough game to neighboring rival Benson 64-59

The Owls girls basketball team fell to 16-3 overall with a loss to the Class AA Benson Braves (13-9), as they get ready for a tough game on Tuesday night with undefeated Brandon-Evansville.

Owls girls basketball earns a tough road win over K-M-S at Kerkhoven on Tuesday night

The Owls are now 16-2 overall going into the final stretch of the regular season. The Fighting Saints fall to 10-12.

The Owls travel to Benson on Friday night (Feb 20) for a non-conference game against the neighboring rival Braves, who are 12-9 overall and on a three-game winning streak.

Scoring: Lindsie Cunningham 13, Bree Holleman 28, Kendra Schmidgall 16, Hannah Newhouse 8, Illissa Koehl 5.

Rebound leaders: Holleman 6, Newhouse 4. Assist leaders: Holleman 6, Cunningham 4, Lauren Nelson 4. Steal leaders: Schmidgall 5, Holleman 3.

Hancock Owls girls basketball team wraps up perfect 6-0 mark in the Pheasant Conference - Coach Holleman wins 200th of her career

Behind Bree Holleman's career-high 38 points, the Hancock Owls came away from a short road trip to Graceville with a 58-50 Pheasant Conference win over the C-G-B Wolverines (2-4 Pheasant, 7-8 overall).

Coach Jodi Holleman earned win number 200 for her coaching career at Hancock, which began in the 1997-1998 season. The Owls are now 15-2 overall.

Scoring: Scoring: Bree Holleman 38 (5 assists, 3 steals), Kendra Schmidgall 7, Lindsie Cunningham 6 (3 steals), Illissa Koehl 5, Lauren Nelson 2 (8 rebounds, 5 assists).

Owls girls basketball team clinches Pheasant Conference title with 77-47 win over Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley

On Tuesday night, February 10, the Hancock Owls girls basketball team defeated the visiting Wolverines out of C-G-B to the tune of a 77-47 win. With their 5-0 record in the league, the Owls clinched the title for the third straight season.

Hancock girls basketball team picks up overtime win over Battle Lake

After playing to a 46-46 draw after regulation play, the Owls (12-1) won a battle at the free throw line, led by the underclassmen group of Lauren Nelson, Illissa Koehl and Kendra Schmidgall, who went a combined 8-for-8 at the free-throw line in overtime.

"The Owls played with a ton of heart and hustle the entire game," said Hancock head coach Jodi Holleman. "We struggled with our shooting early in the game, but came back strong in the second half and knocked down some key shots. I was very proud of the way the girls stepped it up in the overtime period. Bree Holleman picked up her 5th foul late in the second half, and the rest of the girls took over with all the confidence in the world."

Illissa Koehl set the tone in the OT period making back to back lay-ups, while Lauren Nelson went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line, Kendra Schmidgall went 2-for-2, and Illissa Koehl went 2-for-2.

"Lauren Nelson played a whale of a game scoring a season high 17 points, pulling down 6 rebounds, and played outstanding defense," noted coach Holleman. "Bree Holleman followed with 15 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Illissa Koehl scored 8 points, while Lindsie Cunningham, Kendra Schmidgall, and Hannah Newhouse each scored 6 points. This was a total team effort."

Holleman continued, "the Battlers have a very nice team again this year. Offensively, they have an excellent inside/outside attack and play very aggressive defense."

"We gave it quite a run tonight in Hancock and had a win in our grasp, but failed to make free throws to finish the game," said Battle Lake head coach David Marso. "They did make free throws (8/8) in the overtime to seal the win."

Scoring: Lauren Nelson 17, Bree Holleman 15, Illissa Koehl 8, Hannah Newhouse 6, Kendra Schmidgall 6, Lindsie Cunningham 6.

On Tuesday night, the Owls defeated the Wheaton/Herman-Norcross Warriors 52-27, after leading 23-12 at halftime. Bree Holleman led the way with 19 points (5 treys) and six steals. Freshman, Kendra Schmidgall came off the bench and played an excellent game scoring 15 points, pulling down 8 rebounds, and dishing out five assists. Hannah Newhouse added 7 points and went 5-for-6 from the free-throw line.