By Staff

            MCPHERSON – On Thursday, the McPherson Middle School seventh and eighth grade Junior Lady Pups split four home games with Salina South.

            The eighth-grade girls won their ‘A’ game 43-22 while the ‘B’ team lost 14-20. In the seventh-game games, the ‘A’ team stayed unbeaten with a 38-11 victory while they lost the ‘B’ game 14-19.

            Both the seventh and eighth grade Junior Lady Pups get an 11 rest until they return to the competitive courts on Tuesday, November 29 with a road trip to Goddard Eisenhower Middle School.

            Summary of all the games:

8th GRADE JUNIOR LADY PUPS:

            In the eighth-grade battles, the ‘A’ team scored a convincing 21-point, 43-22 victory led by both Jaela Thompson and Brynn Littlejohn scoring 14 points each. Piper Alvord chipped in with eight, Molly Owen had four and Carmin Pavlovich hit for three.

            “Tonight, was the best team effort that we have had all year,” pointed out eighth-grade head coach Heidi Ricke. “The girls came out focused and ready to play tonight. Injury and illness have hit us pretty hard this past week, but I am so proud of how the girls continue to show up and play hard every single game.”

            The ‘B’ team eighth graders took a 14-20 loss to Salina South despite balanced scoring with Ari Prose hitting for five points, Rylee Holt getting four, MacKaylie Woltje having three and Arrianna Nowell getting a pair.

            Coach Ricke concluded his post-game reflections by adding, “Although we came up short in the ‘B’ game, we played a very solid game. We showed a lot of improvement, and the girls showed a lot of heart playing through illness and injury. Coach Stalmaker and I are very proud of the girls.” 

7th GRADE JUNIOR LADY PUPS:

            It was all McPherson in the seventh grade ‘A’ game as the Junior Lady Pups pounded Salina South 38-11 led by Amerie Lowery who hit for 15 points while both Audra Sandbo and Jersey Alexander scored ten with Kennedy Bonham and Karlie Cooper getting two and one point scored, respectively.

            In addition to her 10 points, Audra Sandbo made 12 steals while also dishing out seven assists. Kennedy Bonham led the work in the paint with 11 rebounds while Karlie Cooper pulled down six.

            “We did some good things in the game,” said head coach Matt Sandbo. “Sloppy with the passing and catching in the second half as we need to value the ball much better.”

            The eighth-grade girls ‘B’ team dropped to 4-4 for the season with a five-point 14-19 loss.

            Karlie Cooper just missed double digits in the scorebook with nine while both Rut Diaz Chay and Jaylinn Major each scored a pair of points and Kennedy Bonham had one.

            Coach Sandbo concluded his reflections on the day by noting, “Girls played hard in the ‘B’ game. Their pressure made it hard to score. Look forward to getting back to some practice with no games next week.”

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