Depth helps Hamilton down Pierce

A deep bench gave the Hamilton High girls basketball team a 45-30 victory Friday against Pierce in Arbuckle.

The Bears led for most of the first quarter after senior Macey Cox hit two 3-pointers, but Justine McCorkle gave the Braves the lead at the end of the quarter and Hamilton never trailed again.

Christy Verboom scored the Braves first four points of the second quarter and sparked a 14-4 run that lasted until halftime.

McCorkle scored a game-high 14 points, Verboom added eight points and Lorena Corona scored six. Five other Braves players scored, rounding out a complete team effort.

Pierce drew fouls consistently throughout the first half but shot just 4 of 12 from the free-throw line, and were unable to take advantage after foul trouble sent Hamilton center Audra Jones to the bench for long stretches of the game.

The Bears shot 3 for 5 from the line in the second half.

Cox led the Bears with 12 points on Senior Night, senior Kendra Kent scored nine points, junior Natalie Corona added six and senior Blanca Rodriguez scored three points.

Hamilton (12-10, 7-2 SVL) played second-place Willows on Tuesday, and travel to East Nicolaus (6-13, 1-7) on Friday.

Pierce (7-11, 2-6 SVL) travels to Live Oak (5-14, 4-6) on Friday.