The Hathaway girls basketball team has been quite successful over the last few years.

It was the 2023 Non-select Division IV state champion in and Class B runner-up in 2021 and 2020. However, the Hornets understand that to continue being an elite program, they have to keep evolving.

After a 1-4 start that included three losses defending Non-select Division V state champion Fairview, the Hornets say they have focused more on slowing the tempo and playing defense without abandoning their run-and-shoot style of offense.

“It is a brand-new team and I love the style that we are playing,” second-year head coach and former Jennings High and McNeese State standout Jalyn Johnson said. “Everybody is changing, and it is good for us.

“I think that we are just getting better defensively. Usually we will play the running game where we will just run, run, run, but we don’t have all that personnel this year. Now we actually have to defend and set something up and play basketball, actually. I think that is one of our strengths, us being able to guard.”

In their first five games, the Hornets allowed 60 points a game but have whittled it to 42.2 a game over their last six, including three games under 36 points. They handed LaGrange its first loss, 46-36, on Tuesday in the second round of the Lady Gator Hoopfest at LaGrange High School. They will play Midland at 12:30 p.m. today in the semifinals. The championship game is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Juniors Alli Crader and Sienna Guidry are Johnson’s go-to defenders. The Hornets held the Gators (48.3 ppg) to a season-low points (36).

“It depends on how small or big they are,” Johnson said. “I will go with either Ali or Sienna.

“Sienna is our best defender. She will defend anything. She is down low ready to block. She is our savior basically. Ali will put pressure on the ball. She is gritty.”

Crader and Guidry are two of the Hornets’ three returning starters from last season’s quarterfinal team. Crader made the move from forward to point guard this season and scored and scored a game-high 19 points Tuesday, including 10 in the first quarter.

“Her growth from last year to this year is amazing,” Johnson said. “I remember last year and we played a game and everybody stood off of her. Nobody guarded her. They were just basically giving it. This year they can’t do that. She is shooting threes. She is scoring on all three levels. Her growth is tremendous, and I love it.”

Guidry had 10 points, including a pair of threes.

“She is a knock-down shooter,” Johnson said. “This year what I love about her is she is going to the goal a little more.

“She is getting back doors. (Last year) she would never drive the ball. She has expanded her game.”

Shooting guard Keely Francis, the Hornets’ other returning starter, scored seven points in her second game back from a knee injury that sidelined her since the summer.

“Without her, everyone basically faced guarded Sienna and Ali,” Johnson said. “They would trap those two and leave everybody else open.

“(Francis) is another threat that we need. She is going to be good for us. We have to get her back into shape.”

Johnson said there are two things her team needs to work on: cleaning up their plays on offense and getting healthy.

“I feel like if we get everyone healthy, we will be fine,” Johnson said. “We just have to get there.”

Today at Lady Gator Hoopfeast

Semifinals

Hathaway vs. Midland, 12:30 p.m.

Barbe vs. Iowa, 2 p.m.

Championship

5 p.m.