3 hours Ago By Andrew Haugland
HORACE — Throughout her career, Jaiden Haile has been turning heads with her stellar play for the West Fargo Horace girls basketball team. The 6-foot-2, senior was a first-team all-state selection last season. In three seasons with the Hawks, Haile has compiled 1,551 points and 1,127 rebounds in 74 games.
For Haile, she wasn’t “someone who came out of the womb with a basketball,” but rather proof that hard work and hours spent honing your craft yield success and the accolades that follow. “I put in a lot of work on and off the court,” Haile said of her success. “I like to say I'm a student of basketball.
It’s not necessarily surprising, but I’m definitely grateful for the opportunities I've been provided.” Haile was named the Eastern Dakota Conference Senior Athlete of the Year. She leads the EDC with 499 points (23.
8 ppg), 332 rebounds (15.8 rpg) and field-goal percentage (57.5).
“(Haile) brings leadership,” said Hawks head coach Brent Hintz. “She brings experience. She brings a high-energy motor.
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She plays with such intensity that it’s hard for teammates not to feel that and feed off that.” Haile signed with the Gonzaga women’s basketball program on Nov. 19.
In preparation for her collegiate career, Haile’s been focusing on developing a more rounded game that includes sinking more jumpers in addition to her physical play in the post. Haile became the first athlete from Horace to sign to a Division I school. “She is such a strong and tough defender, and is always willing to sacrifice her body for the good of the group,” said Gonzaga head coach Lisa Fortier on Haile.
“She is very skilled around the basket and all the way out to the 3-point line.” Haile, along with freshman Lakyn Donnelly and sophomore Jordan Christofferson, have created a high-caliber trio that has led Horace to a 23-1 overall record and 16-0 EDC record. All three were unanimous selections to the All-EDC team.
The group combined for nearly half of the Hawks’ points scored in 24 games this season. Haile said having teammates that can make plays has been crucial in her success. “I have some really talented teammates, which allows me to get open,” Haile said.
“I think that if there wasn’t so much talent on my team, people could just send three, even four, girls at me all the time. You can’t do that, because we have some really talented shooters.” Donnelly has scored 479 points, including 67 3-pointers, and a team-high 82 assists for the Hawks.
Christofferson led Horace throughout the EDC tournament and has 329 points and 46 steals this season. Horace rolled through the EDC tournament and defeated Fargo Davies 72-38 in the championship last Saturday and earned the No. 1 seed out of the East Region.
The Hawks open the tournament against West No. 4 Bismarck Legacy in the North Dakota Class AA quarterfinals at 1 p.m.
Thursday, March 13, at the Fargodome. “We know what our advantages are, so just using those advantages and playing our best.” Donnelly said.
Horace returns to the state tournament for the second consecutive year. Haile said it’s not surprising to the success of the program she’s helped lead since its beginning three seasons ago. Offseason work and Hintz’s contributions to the program have been incredibly influential in the Hawks’ ascension to the top of North Dakota, Haile said.
With the final weekend arriving, Haile hopes to shine in her final minutes wearing a Hawks uniform. “Last year at this time, it wasn’t the end,” Haile said. “Now I know this is the end.
I cherish these girls so much and I love them so much. I’m really looking forward to the next three days and the next three games with them.”.
