Girls basketball playoffs: Hess gets historic 1,000 points as Northridge beats Kearns
-
- Northridge High’s Kaylee Hess (10) shoots over Kearns player Lili Andrade-Tellez (34) in a 5A first-round playoff game Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Layton.
-
- Northridge High’s Karlee Mayfield (30) leans on a drive against Kearns player Adhau Chol in a 5A first-round playoff game Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Layton.
-
- Northridge High’s Nini Johnson (25) drives the ball against Kearns in a 5A first-round playoff game Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Layton.
-
- Northridge High’s Kaylee Hess (10) drives against Kearns player Lindsey Tafili in a 5A first-round playoff game Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Layton.
-
- Northridge High’s Sarah Mower (5) passes the ball against Kearns in a 5A first-round playoff game Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Layton.
-
- Northridge High’s Karlee Mayfield (30) shoots past Kearns player Ava Tupou (32) in a 5A first-round playoff game Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Layton.
-
- Northridge High’s Kaylee Hess, right, dribbles past Kearns player Iman Finau in a 5A first-round playoff game Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Layton.
-
- Northridge’s Karlee Mayfield scoops a shot against Kearns in a 5A first-round playoff game Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Layton.
-
- Northridge High’s Nini Johnson dives on the floor for the ball against Kearns in a 5A first-round playoff game Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Layton.
-
- Northridge guard Kaylee Hess dribbles against Kearns in a 5A first-round playoff game Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Layton.
LAYTON — Borrowing a quote from the movie “Anchorman,” Northridge High senior point guard Kaylee Hess is kind of a big deal.
Not only did Hess become the first player in Knights girls basketball history to score 1,000 career points, it was how she did it with a clutch performance during the fourth quarter against Kearns that made four figures a memorable night.
Trailing after three quarters, the No. 13 Knights put on a 3-point blitz in the final frame Tuesday night and rallied past No. 20 Kearns, 46-34, and advanced to the second round of the 5A state playoffs.
“We wanted to get to the second round,” Hess said. “I don’t think there was a doubt in any of our minds that we were going to get it.”
Hess hit a 3 at the 7:35 mark of the fourth quarter, giving Northridge (13-11) the lead (29-27) for good, then exited briefly with a bloody nose still shy of the magic number.
“I was really stressed out. I knew we needed to win the game, but that 1,000 points was still weighing over my head,” Hess said.
Mae Stevenson filled the void in Hess’ absence when she buried a trey on Northridge’s next possession, followed by yet another from Sarah Mower as the Knights led 35-31.
Then they closed the game on an 11-2 run in the final 4:24.
Hess returned and got the historical basket on a spectacular play. A Northridge missed shot was heading out of bounds when Hess vaulted over the end line and saved the ball to a teammate, then established herself back in the corner and drained the headliner.
“Muscle memory just took over. Those type of plays are what really gets you and it was about playing basketball at that point,” Hess said. That’s what my best is, shooting, so it worked out. Definitely a lot of pressure, but I got it at the end.”
She tanked a trio of 3s in the fourth quarter, finished the game with four, and totaled 14 points. Northridge had five 3-pointers in the fourth period as a team.
“The 3s kind of happened. That’s what they were giving us. We didn’t have a lot of dribble penetration and they had a 6-foot-3 girl inside, so that was our best bet,” Hess said. “I like to have the ball in my hands when we know that we need a play to win the game.”
Stevenson swished four 3-pointers for her 12 points and Karlee Mayfield battled inside and scored 11 points for the Knights.
Northridge now faces Region 5 foe Box Elder on the road Thursday, with a trip to the quarterfinals at stake — a promised land the Knights have never reached. They have only won five playoff games ever, four during Hess’ tenure.
“We’ve played Box Elder twice (and lost), but I think we can get them this third time,” Hess said. “We have a good draw in the state tournament and they gotta watch out for us.”