St. Aloysius avoided Mississippi’s first ice storm of 2017 by postponing its game against Hartfield Academy by two days.

What the Flashes couldn’t avoid was the blizzard of turnovers that buried them in the third quarter.
St. Al committed half of its 24 turnovers for the game in the decisive period, allowing Hartfield to pull away and win 77-68 on Monday night. The Hawks extended a six-point halftime lead to 15 heading into the fourth quarter, and were not seriously challenged down the stretch.

“We made some serious mental mistakes in the third quarter,” St. Al coach Eddie Pickle said. “Some turnovers that we should not have made. Making passes that were not open, and being double-teamed and throwing the ball to the wrong guy. That’s stuff that’s going to happen when you’re young. You’ve got to learn from those mistakes.”

Jacquez Ollie led Hartfield with 19 points. Jerrian Young added 13, Dustin Qualls had 11, and Franklin Miskelly scored 10 in a balanced effort.

St. Al hit eight 3-pointers in the game — four of them by Nick Council, who scored a game-high 23 points. Antonio Thompson finished with nine points and 10 rebounds, while Jaylen Whitaker had eight points and seven rebounds.

The bad third quarter, however, proved fatal for the Flashes. When they weren’t turning it over they were missing shots. They only scored four points in the last 4 ½ minutes of the quarter, and were also assessed two technical fouls.

Hartfield took full advantage of the swoon to go on a 9-0 run to end the quarter. Matt Sykes hit a 3-pointer with 22 seconds left to make it 55-40.

St. Al managed to cut it to 76-68 after Thomas Trichell and Council hit back-to-back 3-pointers in the final minute of the game, but never got closer than that eight-point margin. Anderson Crechale split a pair of free throws with 17 seconds left for Hartfield, and then St. Al turned it over while trying to bring the ball up the court. St. Al didn’t foul again, and the Hawks dribbled out the clock.

While disappointed with the outcome, Pickle said he was happy the Flashes continued to hustle and stay competitive in the fourth quarter.

“They’re not going to quit. We may be out-talented, but we’re not going to be outhustled,” Pickle said. “This bunch is up and down. I don’t know sometimes who’s going to show up. That bunch tonight, I was pleased with what I saw. We’re young. We’re going to be OK.”

(G) Hartfield 43, St. Aloysius 33

McKenzie Ragan scored all 12 of her points in the second half, and Hartfield Academy outscored St. Al 18-11 in the fourth quarter to pull away for the win Monday night.

Zoe Peevy added 11 points for Hartfield, and Alexia Nicks scored seven.

Brooklyn Breithaupt had a game-high 18 points for St. Al, and Michelle Howington added seven.