The Hiawatha girls basketball team continued its unbeaten start Tuesday night, opening play at the 12th Annual Thunder Classic with a dominant 65-40 victory over St. Marys.

The Redhawks took some time to find their rhythm, edging the Bears 11-10 after the first quarter before gradually extending the lead to 32-22 by halftime. Hiawatha put the game out of reach in the third quarter, outscoring St. Marys 24-9 during the decisive eight-minute stretch. Overall, the Redhawks held a 33-18 advantage in the second half.

Kylie Nelson delivered a standout performance for Hiawatha, pouring in 26 points to lead all scorers. Kenzie Nelson added 12 points and nine rebounds, while Michaela Williams chipped in nine points and Adison Williams scored eight.

With the win, Hiawatha improved to 12-0 on the season and climbed to No. 5 in Class 3A in the latest Kansas Basketball Coaches Association (KBCA) rankings.

St. Marys dropped to 1-10 with the loss. The Bears were led by Brianna Figge with 11 points, while Veronica Hutley recorded 10 points and five rebounds. Jadelynn Brees added nine points and seven rebounds off the bench.