It was the opening round game of the Hiawatha Girls Invitational, which has a different look with only six teams this year and a pool-play format. Both teams came in with winning streaks as Jackson Heights kept theirs intact. 

GIRLS = Jackson Heights 52, Hiawatha 40

After four lead changes in the first four minutes, Jackson Heights used a 6-0 run to take a 13-8 lead at the end of one quarter and as it turned out would never trail again. The Cobras led 25-21 at halftime and by as many as 16 points in the third quarter following three straight triples by Kanyon Olberding off the bench. Still, Hiawatha cut the margin to 42-38 with 1:39 remaining before Jackson Heights answered with a 6-0 run and hit free throws in the final minute to put the game away. 

Jackson Heights improved to 7-1 with their seventh straight win and had four players score in double-figures as Olberding and Amaya Marlatt each had 14 and McKenzie McMahon and Kaylee Thompson both chipped in 10 to help overcome 17 turnovers. Olberding hit all four treys for the Cobras and earned the Citizens State Bank and Trust Company of Hiawatha "Player to Bank On" honors. 

Hiawatha had won four straight and not lost in January but made just 6-31 three-pointers against the Jackson Heights zone defense and went to the foul line 14 fewer times. Clara Lindstrom had 16 points while Sarah Madsen added eight but both leading scorers fouled out in the fourth quarter as the Redhawks fell to a record of 4-3 on the season. 

Both teams will play again Thursday and Saturday at the Roundhouse and also have games scheduled on Friday this week to continue a busy week of basketball.