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Helena shook up Class 6A, Area 8 by handing Chelsea its first area loss after a spirited second-half performance gave the Huskies a crucial victory. (For the Reporter/Jeremy Raines)

By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

HELENA – The Helena Huskies added more drama to the race for the regular season title in Class 6A, Area 8 with a double-digit victory over the first-place Chelsea Hornets.

Helena defeated Chelsea 43-30 on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at Helena High School, ending the Hornets’ undefeated run in area play after the hosts dominated down low and on defense as the game progressed.

Both defenses came out of the gate determined to make an impact as a Camden Harper 3-pointer proved to be the only points from the floor in the opening seven minutes.

Instead, the Hornets and Huskies used free throws to try and get an early edge as Helena took a 4-1 lead only for Harper’s 3-pointer to tie it and two free throws to give Chelsea a 6-4 lead with 55 seconds remaining in the first.

However, Nate Ferguson changed that with a big 3-pointer to give Helena the lead back, and Denton McDonald scored with just 20 seconds left in the quarter to send the Huskies into the second with a 9-8 lead.

Aiden Owens quickly scored to put the Hornets back in front, but Ferguson knocked down another big shot to restore the one-point lead. Helena wouldn’t trail the rest of the way as that basket was the start of a 7-0 run for the hosts punctuated by a King basket with 4:19 left in the half.

Owens broke up the run with a pair of baskets between another Helena field goal. The Huskies responded by scoring twice more before halftime, including one during the final seconds to make the halftime lead 22-14.

Chelsea’s defense made life difficult for Helena in the opening minutes of the half as it took four-and-a-half minutes for the Huskies to score from the field. During that stretch, the Hornets hit a pair of 3-pointers to cut the deficit to just 22-21 with 3:43 remaining in the third.

Helena countered well, finding McDonald cutting towards the basket off the inbounds play to kickstart a 12-2 run. Drew Davis had an emphatic three-point play with 2:32 left in the quarter, and the Huskies defense held Chelsea to just two free throws for the rest of the third.

That left the Huskies with a 30-23 lead that they built upon in the opening minutes of the third.

Kevin Pinkard hit a pair of shots down low to increase the lead to 34-24 with 5:38 remaining. After a Hornets basket on the other side of the floor, Joseph King converted an and-1 opportunity as his team continued to dominate the low post.

That nine-point lead ballooned to 15 with less than two minutes left, and while Chelsea cut the deficit with a pair of free throws with 1:13 left, the Huskies still walked away with the double-digit victory.

Helena improved to 12-8 overall and 2-2 in area play with the win, leaving it tied with Pelham for second place in the area. The Huskies will host the Spain Park Jaguars for their next game on Friday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. at Helena High School.

Chelsea is now 8-14 on the season and 3-1 in area play. The Hornets remain a game up on Helena and Pelham in first place and can remain in front if they defeat the Pelham Panthers on the road on Friday, Jan. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Pelham High School.

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