Bishop Hartley Stay Focused, Lady Hawks Beat Worthington Christian to Stay Hot

Worthington — Coming off a strong 5-1 start, the Bishop Hartley Lady Hawks sought their fourth consecutive win on Saturday against Worthington Christian, while the Lady Warriors aimed to end a two-game losing streak.

Right off the tip, Palynn Wray put Worthington Christian on the board with a layup. However, Bishop Hartley quickly took control, finishing the first quarter on a 20-4 run. Freshman Naomie Burnett contributed eight points, helping the Lady Hawks to a 20-6 lead at the end of the first.

As a freshman, Burnett has stepped into a leadership role for Hartley, something Head Coach Bylal Humphrey describes as natural for her. “She does it all and contributes in many ways,” he said. “She’s a natural leader, even as a freshman. Along with our other freshman guard, Meira Mullins, they really get us going and play off each other very well.”

Although Bishop Hartley held a comfortable lead, Worthington Christian fought hard to keep the game within reach. Palynn Wray continued to lead the Lady Warriors, while Hartley sophomore Kaytlynn Murphy added five points to complement Naomie Burnett’s six in the second quarter. At halftime, the Lady Hawks led 35-13, with Burnett leading all scorers with 14 points, while Wray had seven points to pace Worthington Christian.

With their large lead fueled by strong, disciplined defensive pressure, Coach Humphrey emphasized the importance of this approach to their success. “It’s huge. With the talent on our team, we have the ability to adjust defensively,” he said. “Turning our defense into offense is exactly what we aim to do.”

Bishop Hartley pulled away to secure a 64-27 victory over Worthington Christian. With a 6-1 record, the Lady Hawks have a few more tune-up games before conference play begins on December 30th. Coach Humphrey emphasized the team’s focus, saying, “It’s just one game at a time. We’re staying focused—one game, one quarter at a time, and continuing to build.”

Bishop Hartley (6-1) will face Glen Oaks on December 27th, while Worthington Christian (2-3, 2-1) returns to Central Buckeye League play on Tuesday against Franklin Heights.