TMS girls stay busy

Middle school girls basketball is keeping very busy with games in Shoshoni, Riverton and Lander this past week.

The eighth graders took on Shoshoni last Thursday, winning a tight one, 19-17.

“I am super pleased with the girls’ ability to come back from a deficit,” coach Ginger Ward said, “using defense and hard work, to slip in a victory. The importance of learning how to win cannot be underestimated and the girls tasted that sweetness.”

Kamry Bowman, Mariah Brooks, and Hallie Martinez enjoyed a positive steal to turnover ratio, while Caydence Becher, Cadence Steadman, and Bronwyn Dobbins fought for six rebounds each.

In Riverton, the eighth grade A and B teams had an up and down morning on Saturday with the A team losing 19-20 while the B team won, 20-13.

“We let Riverton gain one too many points on us early in the game and when we rolled back in, we missed the mark by one,” Ward said. “However, missing the mark does not speak at all for the team, we executed extremely well: secured a rebound, got the ball up the court, and got off a couple of great shots. I cannot ask for anything else.

“We improve. We work hard. We learn. We scored more points in the fourth than in the other three quarters.”

Julie Johnson won rebound honors with five and Ward said she is a defensive stopper.

Six girls on the B team made it into the scoring column this game with a lot of focus, squaring up, and concentration on the rim, especially in the first quarter.

“Riverton didn’t get second chance shots and we did,” Ward said. “The more opportunities to shoot, the better we are.”

Layne Myers started the season late, but is making up ground and Ward is looking forward to her strengthening her ball handling skills. Michelle Burgess and Ashlynn Harvey are improving on blocking out and seeing the ball on defense.

The afternoon games were a little tougher in Lander with both teams losing, the A team with 11-28 and the B team with 7-19.

Ward said they expected a press and the young ladies on the A team handled it well.

Bowman keeps controlling the ball a little better each week, and they pivoted and searched out places to pass the ball, looking for passing lanes.

“Sometimes we didn’t get it to the player we wanted,” she said, “but it speaks highly of the girls that keep poised in tough defense. We played them tougher this time than last time.”

Becher blocked out, plays great help side defense, and pulled in six rebounds.

Ward said each game speeds up a little for the B team and she keeps demanding more of the girls and they keep giving more, but by the end of the day the short numbered squad is tired.

“Cadence Steadman fought fatigue and found a way to rip five boards down,” Ward said. “We gave it our all, our minds and bodies didn’t always do what we know we can do. We will continue work on communicating defensive assignments, working game speed, and making quick shots and be ready for Lovell.”