Lady Plainsmen struggle against Colorado opponents

The Lady Plainsmen suffered two losses last week against Holyoke on Tuesday and Sedgwick County on Thursday.

Coach Katie Cross said both teams were difficult opponents, and the games highlighted the things the Lady Plainsmen need to work on in the future.

“The theme of last week and the reason why we struggled was our continued struggle to score in the first and the fourth quarter,” Cross noted. “We are working toward being able to play a full four quarters of good basketball consistently.”

Holyoke

The remark Cross made about the team’s struggle to score in the first and fourth quarters was especially true in the girls game against Holyoke.

Perkins County scored just one point from a free throw in the first quarter compared to Holyoke’s 12 points.

Holyoke’s lead only grew larger in the second quarter.

The Dragons gained another 20 points in the second, while Perkins County scored six. Meghan Bishop and Autumn Anderson each sank a three pointer to aid their team.

At half, Holyoke held a 19 point lead, 32-7.

The Lady Plainsmen remained consistent in the third, putting another six points on the scoreboard.

Holyoke’s girls countered with 18 points to boost their lead, 50-13.

Holyoke put 18 points on the board in the fourth while the Lady Plainsmen added a trey from Meredith Gloy and a field goal from Kylie Tucker, finishing the game 58-18.

Autumn Anderson was the top scorer for Perkins County against the Dragons with six points from two three-point baskets.

Sedgwick County

Perkins County again traveled to Colorado Thursday where they faced Sedgwick County in Julesburg.

The Lady Plainsmen’s improvement showed after their loss to Holyoke.

Perkins County started off slow again, this time scoring five points in the first quarter, while the Cougars came in strong with 18 points.

Dani Burge scored four of the Lady Plainsmen’s five points in the first.

As Sedgwick County slowed down on scoring, Perkins County picked up their game. The Lady Plainsmen worked to close the early lead the Cougars gained and scored eight points to Sedgwick County’s 10, leaving the score 28-13 at half.

Burge again scored four points for the Lady Plainsmen in the second, accounting for half the team’s points that quarter.

Perkins County continued pushing to shrink the deficit, picking up 13 points in the third quarter. Foul trouble hurt the team, as Rylee Huff was benched early on in the second half.

The Lady Plainsmen held Sedgwick County to seven in the third, shrinking their lead with 13 points. That narrowed the score to 35-26.

Burge yet again put the most points on the scoreboard for Perkins County in the third with five.

The Lady Plainsmen failed to continue their strong scoring in the final quarter, as Cross had noted, and added just five points to their score.

Two more of Perkins County’s girls, Samantha Patrick and Hallie Fisher, fouled out of the game.

The Cougars picked up the pace again and scored 15 points, bringing the final score to 50-31.

Burge was the top scorer against the Cougars with 13 points, despite four fouls.

Perkins County’s record now stands 4-14.

NEXT ACTION

Perkins County played Maxwell, 10-7, on Tuesday, Feb. 4.

On Saturday, Feb. 8, Perkins County will host South Platte’s Blue Knights whose record stands 14-0 after their last victory over Bayard on Jan. 31

In their final game of the regular season, the Lady Plainsmen will face Creek Valley on Tuesday Feb. 11. The Creek Valley Storm’s record stands at 3-12.

Following these three games, sub-districts will begin the week of Feb. 17.