Lady Plainsmen open season with back-to-back contests
By Emmalee Parsley Stevens
Grant Tribune Sentinel
The Perkins County girls basketball team tipped off their 2025–26 season with a home-and-away doubleheader last week. The Plainsmen hosted the Hershey Panthers on December 4 before traveling to Bridgeport on December 5 for their second outing of the young season. Although the team came up short in both games, they showcased grit, improvement, and promising individual performances.
Hershey
Perkins County battled closely with Hershey throughout the first quarter, trailing just 12–10 after eight minutes of play. The Panthers expanded their lead before halftime with a 21–13 second-quarter run, sending the Plainsmen into the break down 33–23.
Perkins County responded with a strong third quarter, outscoring Hershey 11–3 to cut the margin to 36–34. The Plainsmen tied the game early in the fourth, but Hershey capitalized on a few late defensive breakdowns, pulling away with a 20-11 final-quarter advantage and securing a 56–45 win.
Sophomore Addison York led the Plainsmen with 13 points and an impressive 15 rebounds (six offensive, nine defensive). Juniors Madison Potts and Ella Homan each recorded four assists.
Head coach Deanne Bishop praised her team’s resilience, stating:
“There were numerous times during the game when we fell behind, but the girls buckled down and fought their way back. I was proud of the composure and grit they showed. After tying things up in the 4th, we missed a few defensive rotations, and these opportunities gave Hershey some open looks.”
Bridgeport
The following night, Perkins County traveled to Bridgeport, falling to the Bulldogs 60–34. The Plainsmen opened strong, leading 8–6 after the first quarter and trailing just 19–16 at halftime.
Junior Madison Potts led the scoring with 8 points, while junior Emily Wilson added 6. Seniors Hannah Bishop and Jacqueline Gloy each pulled down six rebounds, helping anchor the defense.
Coach Bishop noted the momentum shift after halftime, explaining:
“This game was a tale of two halves. We led by two after the 1st qtr. (8-6) and were only down three at half (16-19). In the second half, we turned the ball over too many times. Although our 3rd qtr. defense was good enough to keep us in the game, we didn’t match things on the offensive end. Bridgeport did a good job applying pressure and capitalizing on our turnovers. I’m glad our girls know we can play with Bridgeport, as was evident by the 1st half. However, we need to stay focused and string together four quality quarters.”
Next Action
Perkins County will continue its early-season schedule on the road with a trip to Haxtun to face the Haxtun Bulldogs on December 9 at 6 p.m. at Haxtun High School. The Plainsmen will look to capitalize on last week’s growth as they aim for their first victory of the season. These results will be in the next edition of the Grant Tribune Sentinel. Lady Plainsmen will then face the Kimball Longhorns at Perkins County High School on December 12. Junior Varsity will begin at 4 pm.