A pair of late wins during the 2022-23 season gave the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn girls' basketball team a better finish in the War Eagle Conference.

The Hawks defeated Trinity Christian and South O'Brien in the final two games of the regular season to finish ninth with a 2-8 conference record. They won just one WEC game the previous year.

The season ended with a 52-38 loss to Emmetsburg in the 2A regional tournament, giving this year's team an overall record of 3-18.

H-M-S again had a young team, with sophomores Kylee Schiphoff and Abby Douma and freshman Moriah Otto finishing in the Top 3 in scoring and rebounding. But Hawk coach Jenni Van Otterloo also appreciated the contributions of the two seniors on the squad.

"Emily Mutombo is a great player that will be missed next year. She has some big defensive shoes to fill," Van Otterloo said. "As a coach, I always appreciate her positivity and leadership that she brought every single day to practice and to games. Although not a leading scorer for us, Emily's defense usually set the tone for how we were going to do as a team.

"Elise Haack is a great basketball player and will be missed next year as well," Van Otterloo continued. "Elise wasn't a leading scorer, but her efforts on the floor were consistent. When she was in the game, I could count on her consistency and minimal errors, and that will be missed."

Statistical leaders for this year include:

Points: Kylee Schiphoff 222, Abby Douma 176, Moriah Otto 143, Emily Mutombo 102, Gracie Knobloch 94, Elise Haack 66, Frankie Mohni 46, Lindsey Van Es 24, Eliza Tewes 15, Addison Sheeler 6.

Total Rebounds: Douma 114, Otto 110, Schiphoff 106, Mutombo 99, Haack 75, Knobloch 61, Mohni 28, Van Es 16, Tewes 15, Sheeler 3.

Assists: Mutombo 25, Schiphoff 21, Haack 18, Knobloch 16, Mohni 11, Otto 6, Douma 5, Tewes 3, Van Es 2.

Steals: Mutombo 61, Schiphoff 29, Knobloch 26, Douma 23, Haack 18, Mohni 12, Otto 11, Van Es 3.

Blocks: Douma 39, Schiphoff 9, Knobloch 5, Haack 4, Otto 2, Mutombo 1.

Team Scoring/Avg.: 894/42.6.

Team Shooting/Pct.: 312/998, 31.3.

Team Free Throw Shooting/Pct.: 213/373, 57.1.

Team Rebounds (O/D): 207/420, 627.

Team Assists: 107

Team Steals: 183.

Team Blocks: 60.

Team Turnovers: 436.