Lady Miners bury Guernsey-Sunrise

The Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) Lady Miner were able to keep their regional playoff race alive by beating the Guernsey-Sunrise Lady Vikings on Saturday in a conference game. This win makes the team 1-1 in the 1A Southeast conference.

The Lady Miners won the 1st quarter 10-7. In the 2nd quarter they opened their narrow lead by scoring 13 points and keeping the Lady Vikings to 5 points. At halftime, the score was 23-12.

Guernsey's post player got into foul trouble and the Lady Miners kept their winning ways in the 4th quarter scoring 14 points to the Lady Vikings' 7 points. The 3rd quarter was close with HEM knocking 8 points to Guernsey's 6. When it was all over, HEM won 45-25.

"We had to work hard on defense because we were outsized and Rainey (Wilson) plays in a tall girls world (Wilson is 5' 3") and she more than holds her own," said Head Coach Jackie Jones. "She pulled down 15 rebounds tonight. She was able to get to the free throw line and scored there. Rainey leads by example. She gets the team calm when it is needed and she is just an all around good player."

Jones also praised Avery Scott for her game.

"Avery had 19 points, 12 rebounds and 11 steals," Jones said. "That is definitely an all around game in a very important conference game. This game could have decided if we go to regionals or not. We didn't talk about it because I wanted them to go out and play basketball, but it was a good win."

Jones said the pressure the team put on the Lady Vikings had to happen because HEM is undersized with the tallest girl in this game being 5' 5".

T'lyssa Solaas was relentless in keeping that pressure on. Jones said by having only six players the girls know their roles and they proved it in this game.

"These girls trust each other and are really coming together," Jones said. "I always tell the girls, win or lose, you have to walk off the court knowing you were the hardest working team that played."

Jones said that playing the hardest is actually a reward for all the practices and effort put in before a game. 

Mackenzie Priest also pleased Jones with her 10 rebounds. 

"We had three girls in double figure rebounds and this is the first time all season that we had every girl score," Jones said. "Not bad for a team that went up against a team with taller players and a bench of a dozen girls. I am very proud of the girls."

The HEM Lady Miners have will have hosted the Saratoga Lady Panthers on January 25. The Lady Miners will be hosted by the Farson-Eden Lady Pronghorns at noon on January 29.