The face of Horace; Jaiden Haile aims to win basketball title for her school

HORACE (KVRR) – Horace Hawks girls’ basketball is on a mission to win the first state title in school history. And they are led Jaiden Haile, a senior on the Hawks, who has been a dominant force all season long. She averages 23.8 points and 15.8 rebounds a game while shooting 57.5% from the floor. Haile has been the face of Horace, the first true superstar of the young school.

“It’s a really special, unique high school experience but I wouldn’t trade it for anything else,” said Haile. “I really value that and looking back I’m going to be really grateful for everything it has taught me. It’s taught me persistence, determination, leadership and I’m just really grateful and so happy to be a part of this program and be the face of Horace.”

This Hawks team is aiming to win their first girls’ basketball title in the school’s history. They went undefeated in EDC play, were the top team in scoring at 78.6 points a night while holding teams to only 50.7. Behind those staggering stats is the leadership of Haile. As she means a lot to this school, this town and this program.

“She’s been here since the start of the program,” said Horace head coach Brent Hintz. “She is kind of someone that people think about when they think about Horace Hawks basketball right now. That senior class and Jaiden especially is just someone that people associate with Horace girls basketball. To have someone like that to start this program has been a blessing.”

The senior is off to Gonzaga this fall to play Division I college basketball, before that there is a state tournament at the Fargodome. A chance to go out on top and lead Horace to the promised land.

“That would mean so much especially because we have put in so much work together as a team and we put so many hours in gym, I couldn’t even count them even if I wanted to,” said Haile. “So to take home a championship and put a banner up on the wall for the first time that would be so special.”

The Hawks face Bismarck Legacy in the state quarterfinals on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at the Fargodome.