Lady Huskies Conference Champions in Bowling, Dance

By Bob Balgemann, REPORTER

SUBMITTED PHOTO – The Journal.
Harlem’s Senior Bowling Team members are, front row – Amanda Thompson, Alexandra Buffington, Mylee McCracken, back row – Devon Lawrence, Jacob Nimtz, Collin Day, Dawson Jones.

The second weekend in January 2017 was a busy one, and a successful one, for sports teams at Harlem High School. Jan. 12 was Senior Night for both Boys and Girls Bowling Teams, with the Lady Huskies completing a perfect 9-0 season and winning their second consecutive NIC-10 championship. Harlem was assured of a co-championship with Guilford (8-1) going into that last match against Jefferson.

It also was a Conference Championship night for Harlem’s Dance Team.

Earlier in the week the Girls Varsity Basketball Team won its sixth consecutive game, 69-53 over Freeport, behind a 22-point performance by Senior Kahley Logan. Junior Paige Schneider chipped in 18 points; Freshman Brielle Shaw, 15; and Junior Tambryn Hecox, nine. Harlem (12-6, 4-4) had the game in hand by halftime, with a 30-17 lead. The Girls Sophomore Team also was successful, coming back from a 29-13 halftime deficit to edge the Lady Pretzels, 46-45. There was disappointment lying ahead, however, as Guilford rallied from a 41-31 fourth quarter lead to edge the Lady Huskies, 49-47, on Jan. 12. Logan and Schneider did most of the scoring for Harlem, putting up 26 and 16 points respectively.

In boys basketball action Harlem (6-9, 2-6) succumbed to a halftime rally by Guilford in a 79-66 setback. The Huskies were up, 34-31, at halftime. The Vikings also won the Sophomore game, 63-46.

There were moments of sadness over Christmas break, in that the Harlem and Guilford communities, as each lost a student to an untimely death. Harlem’s Sophomore Basketball Team exhibited what Auburn Head Coach Bryan Ott called a “touching display of compassion and empathy in the wake of our loss.” That took place before the Sophomore game, played Jan. 6 at Harlem, when the Huskies presented Auburn coaches and players with T-shirts “commemorating the life of Auburn Sophomore Lavontay Allen,” Coach Ott stated in a letter to Harlem Head Coach Scott Lemke, the Harlem basketball program, Athletic Department and school community.

“I hope this public acknowledgement at least serves to shine a well-deserved light on the classiness of the coaches and players in the Harlem High School basketball program,” he added. “Thank you for the grace and friendship you have thoughtfully shown towards us.”

Belvidere High School hosted its first Buc Classic Competitive Cheer Invitational on Jan. 7, with Harlem entries doing well. Harlem Middle School won the large Junior High Competition with 61.92 points, compared with 53.73 points for runner-up Marlowe Middle School.

Harlem’s large Junior Varsity Team finished fourth. That event was won by Belvidere North.

Finally, Harlem’s large Varsity Team scored 83.35 points and came in a close second to the champion, Providence, which had 85.78 points.