It has been a trying season for Uintah High School girls basketball (2-12 overall, 2-2 Region 10), but the team’s 12 losses to start the season were merely prologue to guard Kaitlynn Hanberg’s game-winning three-pointer on the road at Union High School (3-11, 0-4) last Tuesday night.

Following the team’s loss to Morgan High School (12-4) on Dec. 29, Uintah took its lumps in two more losses; 64-43 against Judge Memorial Catholic High School (10-4, 3-1), and 44-33 against Wasatch High School (9-5, 3-1). Hanberg led Uintah with seven points against Judge. Hanberg and Caity Beddes tied for the lead with eight points apiece against Wasatch.

It all turned around for Uintah against its rival, Union. The teams started out slow, with the score 4-3 after one quarter. Things picked up in the second quarter, and at halftime it was 18-15 in Uintah’s favor.

Uintah added to its lead in the third, and took a nine-point advantage early in the fourth quarter when Beddes left Union’s post players flat-footed in grabbing an offensive rebound off a missed free throw. Beddes put the ball back in with a layup, and drew a foul. After she converted the free throw, Uintah was up nine.

Union would not go away, however. Getting to the line repeatedly, Union stretched the fourth quarter out and tied the game, 37-37, with just under two minutes to play.

That was Hanberg’s cue. She received a pass on the wing, right in front of the Uintah bench, and fired from three-point range with no hesitation, swishing her third three of the night.

Uintah head coach Kristy Putnam said she was thinking, “Thank you! Finally something went our way. Kaitlynn pulled through when we needed her to.”

After Hanberg’s big shot, Union was unable to create any offense, and was forced to foul. Hanberg was 4-4 from the line down the stretch to put the game away. The final score was 44-37. Hanberg finished with 15 points. Beddes was Uintah’s second-leading scorer with 10.

Uintah got its first winning streak of the 2011-12 season started Friday at home against Park City High School (3-8, 1-3). Trailing 16-15 at halftime, Uintah exploded with a 15-point third quarter to take control. Beddes led Uintah with 13 points against the Miners.

“Caity Beddes had her best game of the season,” Putnam said.

Park City played with urgency in the fourth quarter to make it a close, but ultimately couldn’t put up enough points to avoid losing, 38-26.

Putnam sees more good things coming for her team.

“I’m glad to say that we haven’t even come near to playing our best,” she said. “We are hoping to improve on last week and put together two good games this week.”

Uintah traveled to play Juan Diego Catholic High School (12-3, 3-1) Tuesday night, and will host Judge in a rematch Friday night.