MMS JUNIOR LADY PUPS WIN 3 OF 4 IN SALINA

By Staff

            SALINA – On Monday, the McPherson Middle School seventh and eighth grade girls basketball teams traveled to Salina to battle with Salina Lakewood and returned home with three wins and one loss.

            The eighth-grade Junior Lady Pups split their pair of games as the ‘A’ team won by two, 31-29 while the ‘B’ team lost 35-13.

            For the seventh-grade Junior Lady Pups, the ‘A’ team remained unbeaten with a 31-point, 45-14 victory while the ‘B’ team also claimed a win on the road by a score of 29-27.

            Here is a recap of all the games by the Junior Lady Pups.

MMS 8^th GRADE JUNIOR LADY PUPS:

            It was a tough, close game for the eighth grade ‘A’ team as they squeaked out a two-point, 31-29 victory led by Jaela Thompson with 13 points.

            Thompson also topped the team in rebounds with five while also making three steals.

            “Tonight, was a tough game,” noted head coach Heidi Ricke. “The girls showed a lot of heart holding onto the lead to finish out the game. Salina Lakewood came out to play and showed us our toughtest game of the season thus far. The girls had a solid defensive effort.

‘A’ Team Scoring: Jaela Thompson – 13, 5 rebounds, 3 steals; Rylie Whitfield – 7, 2 rebounds, 2 steals; Piper Alvord – 4, 2 rebounds; Brynn LittleJohn – 4, 2 rebounds; MacKaylie Woltje – 2.

            Unfortunately for the eighth-grade Junior Lady Pups ‘B’ team it did not go as well as they got humbled with a 22-point, 35-13 loss to Salina Lakewood.

            Ari Prose led the team in scoring with six points while Molly Owens dominated in the paint by pulling down nine rebounds and making three steals.

‘B’ Team Scoring: Ari Prose – 6, 3 rebounds, 1 steal; MacKaylie Woltje – 5, 6 rebounds; Molly Owens – 2, 9 rebounds, 3 steals.

MMS 7^th GRADE JUNIOR LADY PUPS:

            In the seventh-grade games, the ‘A’ team stayed unbeaten at 4-0 by hammering Salina Lakewood 45-14. Leading the way for the ‘A’ team was Amerie Lowery and Jersey Alexander who scored 14 and 13 points, respectively.

            Alexander also made eight steals while Lowery had five. Both Karlie Cooper and Kennedy Bonham collected six rebounds and Audra Sandbo passed out four assists.

            “We were not focused and ready to play in the first half on either end of the court,” noted head coach Matt Sandbo, “We did do much better in the second half.”

‘A’ Team Scoring: Americ Lowery – 14 points, 5 steals; Jersey Alexander – 13 points, 8 steals; Audra Sandbo – 6 points, 4 assists; Karlie Cooper – 6 points, 6 rebounds; Kennedy Bonham – 4 points, 6 rebounds; Allison Randa – 2 points, 3 rebounds.

            In the ‘B’ game it was much closer as the Junior Lady Pups scored a two-point, 29-27 win led by Allison Randa who poured in 16 points.

            Coach Sandbo concluded his post-game reflections by adding, “IN the ‘B’ game it was another tight one for these girls. They are improving with every practice and game.”

‘B’ Team Scoring: Alison Randa – 16; Karlie Cooper – 6’ Kennedy Bonham – 5; Jaylinn Major – 2.

(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)