Coach: It was a learning game

The Thermopolis Lady Cat JV basketball team met Worland and Buffalo this past weekend while the “froshmore” (freshman-sophomore mixed) team took on Buffalo.

The JV game against Worland was a tough loss (36-22) at home.

Coach Katie Despain said it was a learning game for the girls as they only scored five total points in the first half, but rebounded to score 17 in the third. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to overcome the Lady Warriors as the Lady Cats were scoreless in the fourth quarter.

“As coaches,” Despain said, “we continue to see imporvement, even in the little things. It comes down to boxing out, rebounding and getting our shots to fall.

“I look forward to meeting up with Worland again to hopefully see the improvement between this game and the next.”

Aspen Jensen, Jazmen Jensen and Reagan Severance each had three points apiece while Dayna Sandberg, Jasmine Collins, Elisa Weber, Audrey Axtell, Hailie Weber and Bri DeVries each had two points. Emme Norsworthy dropped in one from the free-throw line.

Things started out a bit better for the Cats on Friday against Buffalo, coming out neck and neck to start the first quarter, 8-6, Buffalo. The second quarter was just as close, 12-16, Buffalo.

The third quarter though saw the girls outscored by seven points, leaving things at 28-17, Buffalo at the end of the third.

In spite of their best efforts, keeping Buffalo to just three points in the fourth, it just wasn’t enough to put that “W” on the books.

“I was pleased with Thermop’s free throws,” Despain said, “shooting 11 for 16 on the line. Intensity was a big factor in this game. We didn’t have a lot of it and it showed in the final score.

“Buffalo is another team I look forward to competing with again. I know we have a lot of potental to stay right there with this team, it will just come down to fixing turnovers, intensity, getting our shots to fall and rebounding.”

Top scorer for the Lady Cats was Elisa Weber with seven, followed by six from Norsworthy. Aspen Jensen popped in three and Kaylee DeVries, Axtell, Hailie Weber and Dani Jo Pebbles each had two.

The “froshmore” team, a combination of freshmen and sophomores, also played in Buffalo on Friday, coming out on top, 39-29.

This was a tight game with the first quarter ending, tied at 11. Buffalo pulled ahead in the second, 19-15, but the Cats were ready for them coming out of the locker room, pulling away in the third, 30-24.

“This was a huge confidence booster for the girls,” Despain said. “The girls played with a lot of intensity and they played as a team, using a lot of communication and fight throughout the whole game.

“I am super proud of them for the way they played. I look forward to watching the froshmore girls continue to grow individually and as a team.”

Leading the way to the win was Weber with 15 points. Severance wasn’t far behind with nine, Collins six and Sandberg four. Jazmen Jensen and Axtell each had two and Bri DeVries had one from the line.