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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

ALABASTER – After dropping 111 points against JAG on Saturday, the Thompson Warriors were held to much less than that in their follow-up to that performance.

However, Thompson still emerged with the 49-44 win over the Helena Huskies on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at Warrior Arena.

The win splits the season series between the county foes after Helena took their first matchup of the season 41-39 on Nov. 21 at Helena High School.

KK Fenderson followed up her 31-point performance with double figures in the first half starting with six first-quarter points.

However, it was the Huskies who got the better of the two sides in the opening eight minutes thanks to a strong shooting performance from deep. Isabel Heintz knocked down two 3-pointers in the first and Anna Owens hit a shot from long range as well, helping Helena outscore Thompson 13-8 in the opening quarter.

The Warriors responded well in the second quarter as Fenderson scored two more baskets to hit 10 points for the half but got some crucial help from Sydney Coney. Coney scored three field goals in an improved 14-point effort for the Thompson offense.

Mallory Rhodes led the Huskies with her first five points of the evening, but the Warriors outscored Helena 14-9 to tie the game up at 22-22 going into halftime.

The teams remained tightly matched in the third quarter as the result hung in the balance. Coney dropped eight points for the Warriors in the third as she and Nadya French accounted for all 12 of their team’s points during that span.

The Huskies kept going toe-to-toe with Thompson as Hannah Satterfield, Jaterrica Moody and Rhodes each hit shots from the field.

The Warriors had the slight edge at the end of the third, taking a 34-32 lead into the fourth quarter.

Heintz continued to challenge Thompson with her success from deep as she got her third and fourth 3-pointers of the game to fall in the fourth. Rhodes also hit a 3-pointer to keep the pressure on the hosts.

Coney stepped up with eight points on the other end of the floor for the Warriors, and Destinee Ealy came through with a 5-for-6 performance from the free throw line in the fourth to seal the victory.

Coney ended the night with a game-high 24 points, including 16 points in the second half to follow up her 26 points against JAG. Fenderson finished with 10 points, all of which came in the first half. Ealy scored seven points and French had four points in the win.

As for Helena, Heintz finished the game with 15 points, including four 3-pointers. Rhodes joined her in double figures with 10 points and Satterfield and Amari Grant each earned seven points.