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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

HELENA – The Helena Huskies continued building momentum for area play over Christmas break with three wins over the holidays capped off by one over a Class 7A opponent.

A 56-19 win over the Tuscaloosa County Wildcats on Monday, Dec. 30 at Helena High School followed up two wins at the Big Orange Classic from Dec. 19-21 at Hoover High School.

Helena went 2-1 at the Big Orange Classic with a 52-41 win over the Central-Tuscaloosa Falcons in the opening game, a loss to the Central-Phenix City Red Devils by a score of 77-47 and a 43-40 win over the Homewood Patriots in the final game of the showcase.

In the first matchup against Central-Tuscaloosa, Helena got off to a strong start on both sides of the floor as Hannah Satterfield, Jaterrica Moody and Isabel Heintz each hit multiple baskets in the first quarter.

That gave the Huskies a 22-5 lead that they held on to even as the Falcons chipped into it over the next three quarters.

Heintz led Helena with 11 points, Mallory Rhodes and Satterfield each scored nine points, Moody earned eight points and Amari Grant finished with six points.

In the second game against Central-Phenix City, the Huskies kept it close with the Red Devils early on and led 6-4 after a highly defensive first quarter. The Central offense took command in the second quarter though and continued rolling on to victory.

Despite the loss, Heintz scored 16 points, Moody had eight points, Rhodes finished with six points, Satterfield earned five points and Grant rounded out the scoring with four points.

Helena then overcame an early deficit against Homewood to earn a tight win to finish out the tournament.

After trailing 16-9 at the end of the first quarter, the Huskies chipped into the deficit to make it a six-point game at the half as Grant led an improved offensive effort.

From there, Helena’s defense held Homewood to just six points in the third while using a 6-for-8 stretch from the free throw line to draw within two at the end of the third.

With the Patriots on the ropes, Moody knocked down multiple shots in the fourth and the Huskies did just enough to tie up the game at 40-40 and force overtime. Grant and Satterfield each hit free throws in overtime to lift their team to a 43-40 win as Homewood was held scoreless in overtime.

Grant scored 14 points to lead Helena while Heintz scored nine points, Moody had seven points, Rhodes earned five points and Gracelyn Ambrose had four points off a 4-for-4 day from the free throw line.

That gave the Huskies a victory heading into a lengthy break and a matchup just ahead of the new year against Tuscaloosa County.

Helena’s defense held the Wildcats to just two points in the first quarter, paving the way for the Huskies offense to take control with a double-digit lead. Grant took over with seven first-quarter points while Satterfield, Moody and Destiny Brashears also hit shots from the field.

With a 15-2 lead in tow, Helena continued to build off its advantage. Heintz and Trinity Watson each hit 3-pointers as the Huskies outpaced Tuscaloosa County and went into the half with a 27-11 lead.

Helena had another big offensive performance in the third quarter as Grant scored eight more points, including a 4-for-4 performance from the free throw line. That helped the Huskies pull away to a 44-19 lead at the end of the third.

Helena kept its foot on the gas right until the final whistle. The Wildcats didn’t score in the entire fourth quarter and Heintz’s five points in the fourth led the way for a 12-point performance as a team.

The Huskies then put the finishing touches on the 37-point win to finish out the 2024 calendar year.

Grant, Moody and Heintz each got into double figures as Grant scored 17 points, Moody earned 12 points and Heintz had 11 points. Satterfield and Watson each finished with five points.

Helena enters area play with a 10-7 record and starts its journey in Class 6A, Area 8 with a road game at Chelsea on Friday, Jan. 3 at 5:30 p.m.