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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

CHELSEA – The Chelsea Hornets kept their winning ways going into 2024 by earning their second victory of the season against the Helena Huskies, this time at home with a 58-28 win on Wednesday, Jan. 3.

The win gives the Hornets their 19th win of the season ahead of the start of area play on Friday, Jan. 5.

Haley Trotter had another strong performance with 22 points on the night, and she got to work early to help Chelsea establish an early lead.

Trotter had 11 of the Hornets’ 15 first-quarter points, and combined with baskets from Olivia Pryor and Madeline Epperson and just one field goal allowed by the defense, Chelsea got out to a 15-4 lead at the end of the first.

The Hornets only improved from there, dropping 20 points in the second quarter and allowing just three more points from Helena before halftime.

Five different Chelsea players scored in the second, led by six from Pryor, which let the Hornets take a 36-7 lead into the halftime locker room.

After the break, the Huskies’ offense roared to life and scored 14 points in the next eight minutes, including five from Isabel Heintz.

However, the Hornets extended their advantage with six points each from Trotter and Caroline Brown to score 18 points in the third.

Now up 30 going into the fourth quarter, that proved to be the final margin of victory for Chelsea as it cruised through a quiet fourth quarter to seal the win.

In addition to Trotter’s game-high 22 points, she added six rebounds and two blocks to her impressive total. Brown also hit double-figures with 10 points to go with three rebounds and two steals.

Pryor stuffed the stats sheet with eight points, seven steals and three rebounds, Sadie Schwallie scored five points and Sydney Carroll had four points in the victory.

For Helena, Heintz led the team with eight points and Terri Moody and Amari Grant each scored four points.

Chelsea will open up area play on Friday, Jan. 5 at home against Hewitt-Trussville. While Helena won’t face an area opponent that night, it will take on a county foe at home in Calera.