Lady Miners get their first win

The Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) High School girls basketball team has won only one game this season, but Head Coach Jackie Jones isn't discouraged because she knows the girls are improving. The win against Midwest is proof. But before the win, the Lady Miners had to take a few losses. 

Southeast was one of those teams.

"Our girls were fortunate to have a Southeast team that allowed our younger players to get quality time on the court," Jones said. "Southeast varsity players were involved in a large tournament in Cheyenne for the weekend, but they filled teams to face their conference opponents. For our first following the break, the girls saw that the rust had to be cleaned, but we also some good things happen. A core of freshmen girls led the scoring so that was exciting to see." 

The Southeast Lady Cyclones won 37 to 20.

On January 10, the Lady Miners faced the Saratoga Lady Panthers. Saratoga won 50 to 15.

"In all fairness, Saratoga handled us fairly easily," Jones said. "We are still struggling to get in the winning column, but the growth over the weekend has been heartening."

January 12, the Lady Miners came close but ended up losing to Midwest Lady Oilers 20 to 19.

"Thursday we didn't play our best basketball by any stretch of the imagination," Jones said. "Friday morning we played better and by Friday morning we played the Natrona Sophomores and had a really good showing."

She said the tournament showed the flaws and positives.

"We have to do something about turnovers, because they are at an unacceptable rate at this point," Jones said. "We also are shooting the ball with a high percentage."

She said over the weekend there had been some good shot selections, but the shots were not falling in.

Jones found herself giving her younger players an opportunity to play because some of her starters were not living up to their potential.

"I did end up putting some younger players in actually," Jones said. "Freshman Madison Widdison has a nose for the ball. In the game against Natorna, she had five blocked shots. Her cousin Sammy Widdison ended up starting for us strictly on her work ethic. Then there is Justine Widdison who goes a thousand miles an hour all the time."

It was not only the younger players Jones had praise for over the weekend.

Senior Sara Sikes impressed her.

"This is her first year of high school basketball. Sara is a worker. I thoroughly enjoy having her on the team, because she hustles," Jones said. "What she may lack on the offensive end, she does exactly what we are trying to instill on the defensive end. I don't usually highlight players, but these four deserve it after this weekend."

The Lady Miners played Meeteetsee on January 13 and lost 20 to 6. In a rematch later in the day, the Lady Miners faced Midwest again, and this time came out on top 27 to 20.

Their last game against Natrona JV was a good one according to Jones because of the intensity the Lady Miners played. Unfortunately they lost 50 to 12.

Jones said Natrona has hundreds of kids vying to be on the JV team and only about 15 are picked. She said being a JV team the caliber of Natrona, didn't mean the players were not good. Jones said on the contrary, the team is very good.

Now that the weekend is over, Jones is ready for practice.

"You know we don't go into practices saying, 'Hey girls, lets go lose another one'," Jones said. "What we look at is how hard we must work in order to improve. Practice is as important as the games themselves.

The Lady Miners face Rock River on January 20 at home.