Emily Gartner

For the first time in many years the Hiawatha lady Red Hawk basketball team posted a winning record last year and that success from last season has bleed over into this year as the Red Hawks are 9-3 on the season and won their home Invitational for the first time in 36 years last week.

One gal at the front of the pack helping lead the way for the Red Hawks on the court is senior, Emily Gartner who continues to help lead Hiawatha this season. Gartner and company notched wins over Jackson Heights (57-28), Lansing JV (53-32) and Nemaha Central (38-36) in the first round, semifinals and Championship of the Hiawatha Invitational last week.

Gartner helped the Red Hawks to that tourney title posting 20 points and eight rebounds in the first round against Jackson Heights, then posting 16 points against Lansing JV and finishing the tourney off with a 23 point performance against Nemaha Central. In the Championship contest Gartner tallied 18 of her 23 points in the second half and made the game winning bucket with 11 seconds left and sealed the game with a block at the buzzer.

On the season Gartner has been a stat sheet stuffer and tough player to stop on any given night averaging 20.5 points per game, 12. 4 rebounds per game, 1.5 assists per game, 1.5 steals per game and 2.5 blocks per game, while shooting over 70% from the floor and around 77% from the free throw line. The senior has scored 16 or more points in every single game with nine 20-plus point games this season, including a season high 29 points against Royal Valley.

While Gartner is set to continue her basketball career at Missouri State University next year, where she will also throw the discus she has her focus with her teammates on finishing this basketball season strong and making noise in the Big Seven and postseason.