DARLINGTON — For the first time since the 2008-09 season, the Darlington (2-0) celebrated a win over Platteville (0-3). This time, it was at home in a nailbiter, 40-34.

Tuesday night’s thriller kicked off with Jaidyn Evenstad throwing down the first score from outside the arc after two scoreless minutes.

Evenstad provided the next points on a layup, driving straight through the paint to the hoop for a quick 2-pointer, eliciting a timeout from Hillmen coach, Brandon Temperly, at 14:30.

Temperly’s squad remained scoreless through the opening 3:30, with ball handling errors being the most egregious of Platteville’s troubles.

Evenstad continued being the driving force behind the Redbird offensive, draining one of two free throws to push the squad’s advantage to 6-0 by 13:03.

Then the Hillmen found their footing — Rianna Dye used fancy footwork with a jumper in the paint for two. Dye hit a shot along the baseline for another 2-pointer at the 11:30 mark.

Avery Richard tied the game with a fast-break layup off a steal with an and-one free throw to follow. Her attempt missed the mark, meaning the Hillmen were stuck at a 6-6 tie with 7:50 to go.

Jaxcyn Berntgen gave Platteville its first lead of the game, making the second of two free throw attempts with 7:20 left in the half.

The lead change stuck for a majority of the game. 

The Hillmen outpaced Darlington with a 5-2 run to close the half — Ava Hendrickson was responsible for Darlington’s two points in the paint with Evenstad on the assist.

Alyssa Blevins tallied the opening score of the second half with a two along the baseline.

Evenstad surged with a sprinting layup straight up the paint as a Redbird response.

The Hillmen added four more points before Sadie Goebel scored her first field goal of the night.

Aubrey McCarthy kept Darlington in pace with the Hillmen, giving the Redbirds two more points in response to a Platteville field goal.

Darlington received more support from Maddie Gratz, who sank a wide-open three to bring the Redbirds back with in five points, down 22-17 at just past the 13-minute mark.

Evenstad added another 3-pointer with the assist coming from Catie Hartwig 60 seconds later.

Darlington tied the game up a moment later, as Goebel threaded a pass between two Hillmen in the paint to Hartwig.

Evenstad involved herself on the next score, firing a dart to Niasia Niedziejko, who was already driving to the hoop along the elbow.

The score tied the game back up at 24 points apiece ahead of the 8:30 mark of the second half.

Platteville grabbed the lead with another 2-pointer, but Goebel kept the Redbirds in sync with a pair of free throws.

On the following Hillmen possession, Hendrickson fell on the ball to grab the defensive rebound, and Darlington’s head coach, Brad Solberg, called a timeout to collect his team.

Platteville then enforced its full court press that was successful earlier in the game. 

Success didn’t follow this time around, though.

The Redbirds worked around the press, and got their offense set. The Hillmen aggressiveness resulted in more fouls, sending Darlington players to the line.

The first was Hendrickson at 6:41. She made both of her bonus shots to put the Redbirds ahead, 28-26.

McCarthy got an and-one trip to the line that fell through the hoop, putting Darlington ahead by three more points at 5:31. Gratz assisted Evenstad for a 2-pointer 30 seconds later.

Platteville eventually scored another pair of points, and they came by way of a pair of free throws from Berntgen.

The Redbirds got another score from Evenstad, who stole the ball on a full-court press and went down the floor for two, putting Darlington ahead, 35-28.

Dye cranked out a single free throw to bring the Hillmen within six points just past the 2-minute mark.

The Redbirds were able to use quick passing to keep the ball out of Platteville’s hands for over a minute, and with 58.6 seconds to play, the Hillmen started to intentionally foul.

McCarthy got the first trip to the line, making just the first of her two shots.

Platteville sprinted down the court and got the ball to Dye. She didn’t have the best look, but popped the ball out to a wide-open Macie Noble.

Noble’s shot hit the rim, bounced high, hit the rim again, and deflect off. The Hillmen got the rebound, passed around the perimeter, and the ball made its way into Noble’s hands once more.

This time, her shot sank for three points, bringing Platteville within four points with 41.7 seconds to play.

Following a timeout, the Hillmen fouled Zoie Zuberbuhler with 1.5 seconds knocked off the clock.

Both her shots found their mark, putting Darlington up 38-32.

Dye got the shot eight seconds later in the paint to bring Platteville within four points

Evenstad got the final call to the line with 21.4 seconds on the clock, and both her shots fell in to put the Redbirds up 40-34. 

Evenstad’s scores also proved to be the final score of the game.

The win breaks a 14-game losing streak for Darlington to the Hillmen.