RENO — The Spanish Springs Cougars had a hard time containing the Hug Hawks Tuesday, falling 59-42 in girls 4A prep basketball action.

The Cougars (9-7, 0-2 HDL) started off with an early lead, 8-5. Unfortunately for SSHS fans, a 9-0 run by the Hawks in the first period seemed to predict the fate for Spanish Springs. The run put the Hawks ahead 14-12 and the home team never relinquished that lead. Spanish Springs pulled within in two with 28 seconds remaining in the opening period after two free throws by Jackie Moore.

“We didn’t play well as a team,” Spanish Springs coach Christine Eckles said. “We tried to do too much individually.”

Leading 16-14, Hug (6-2, 2-0) put up five unanswered buckets for a 26-14 lead, capped by an Ieesha Greer jump shot. Hug led by as many as 11 in the second quarter and took a 28-19 edge into halftime.

The teams battled back in forth in the third quarter as Hug outscored Spanish Springs just by one in the period, 15-14. That gave the Hawks a double-digit lead heading into the final quarter, 43-33.

“We knew they’d be a good team,” Eckles said. “I have a lot of respect for them. We didn’t underestimate them.”

The fourth quarter did not start well for SSHS. The Cougars were outscored 13-2 in the first three and a half minutes to seal the game’s outcome. With 4:33 left on the fourth-quarter clock, Hug’s Chakayla Carthen made a layup and was awarded a bonus shot for a foul.

Spanish Springs was then whistled for a technical after having six players on the court and Carthen shot the technicals. She made just one of her awarded three free throws for the 56-35 score.

“In practice we have to simulate the kind of pressure that we saw today,” Eckles said.

The Cougars hit back-to-back buckets but were unable to make up much ground in the game, falling by the final 17-point gap.

Carthen had 16 for the Hawks. Greer and Cortney Corley chipped in 10 points each toward Hug’s winning effort.

Spanish Springs’ Kelly Hernandez led all scorers with 17 points. Ari James had 10 rebounds, six steals and three assists for the Cougars.

Spanish Springs is back in action Friday at home 5:15 p.m., hosting North Valleys.

“I’m concerned about our team and working on the things that we didn’t do well,” Eckles said.