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Chelsea is heading to the area title game and sub-regionals after using a strong defensive effort and another 20-point double-double from Haley Trotter to stifle Spain Park. (For the Reporter/Robert Dean)

By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

CHELSEA – The Chelsea Hornets stuck to their defensive gameplan and dominated as they have for much of the season to keep their hot streak rolling into the Class 6A state playoffs.

Chelsea defeated the Spain Park Jaguars 41-9 on Saturday, Feb. 1 at Chelsea High School in the Class 6A, Area 8 semifinals to win its seventh-straight area game and extend its win streak to 11 in a row.

As a result, the Hornets are heading to the area title game to face the Helena Huskies at home on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. and will be guaranteed a spot in sub-regionals on Friday, Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. The winner of the area title game will host in sub-regionals.

The Hornets defense started rolling from the opening tip and shut out Spain Park for the entirety of the first quarter, closing off passing lanes with on-ball pressure and forcing mistakes and miscues from the Jags.

Chelsea took advantage on the other end of the floor and established a dominant double-digit lead. However, it took a few more minutes than usual as the Hornets offense took its time with multiple passes and slowly but surely took control of the game.

Shortly after a Haley Trotter layup through contact to put Chelsea up 4-0, ­­­she hit a big 3-pointer to increase the lead to 7-0 with 4:50 remaining in the first. Caroline Brown then scored with 3:30 remaining to draw a timeout from Spain Park with the lead at 9-0.

The Hornets wouldn’t score for almost three-and-a-half minutes before Brown hit a pair of free throws to give her team and 11-0 lead at the end of the first. Brown continued her own 6-0 scoring run with a layup off a strong cut on an inbounds play just 46 seconds into the second.

A minute later, Spain Park broke the scoring drought with a basket from Chenelle Hunter, and the Jags made it a 10-point game just past the midway point of the quarter as Chelsea couldn’t get much up on coach John Hadder’s defense.

Spain Park stayed within 10 until two minutes remained, and that’s when the Hornets went on a 7-0 run to close the half. Trotter got another tough shot to fall and Juliann Bass hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send Chelsea to the break with a 23-6 lead.

Both teams struggled to find the basket in the third quarter, but the Jags found even less success as the Hornets secured a second shutout quarter. Chelsea scored just twice from the floor off layups from Pryor and Trotter but remained in complete control with a 30-6 lead after the third.

Trotter and Pryor continued to dominate down the stretch until they came out with just a couple of minutes left and the game in hand as the Hornets took the 32-point win.

Trotter secured another double-double in the victory, scoring 20 points and earning 10 rebounds to go with three steals. Brown and Pryor each finished with eight points as Brown added on five assists. In addition, Sadie Schwallie finished with four steals and three rebounds.

Tori Flournoy led the Jags with five points as they finished the year with a 12-16 record, a three-win improvement for a young team in its second season under John Hadder.

Before the game, Brown, Trotter, Pryor and Schwallie were named to the Class 6A, Area 8 All-Area team alongside Ava Leonard and Flournoy from Spain Park.

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