Junior High ladies split the week

Kimball junior high basketball ladies split their week with seventh grade teams gaining one win but falling twice and eighth grade improving their season to 4-0.

On Tuesday, Nov. 15, the Kimball team hosted Gering with two seventh grade games followed by one for the eighth grade girls.

The seventh grade A team suffered an 11-35 loss with Katie Heeg leading on the board with six points, followed by Payton Wise with four and Tianna Stirewalt with one.

The seventh grade B team, led by Chantel Malson, won their game 18-4. Malson earned eight points, with teammate Caelyn Long adding four.

Mariana Cajero, Amy Birkhoffer and Sarinda Bateman each contributed two to the Kimball board.

The older team won out over Gering 32-29 with Sydney Biesecker leading with nine, followed by Sammie Bemis with seven.

Jaydin Paxton, Emma Martin and Brooklyn Golding each added four to the board while Megan Spicer contributed three and Raven Johnson, one.

"This was a really big win for us," coach Michele Daum said. "Gering always has a good team and these girls all told me that they had never beaten them. So, we were really excited for this win. The entire team played hard and fought right down to the last buzzer. I was very proud of each player that stepped on the floor."

The seventh grade ladies got stung by the Pine Bluffs Hornets 10-21, when they traveled to Pine Bluffs, Wyo., on Monday, Nov. 21.

Stirewalt and Payton Wise led the efforts with four points each followed by Heeg with two.

"This group of girls continue to keep fighting hard and working hard each game," Daum said. "They are taking good shots and have good looks at the basket, but the ball just won't fall for them right now. They are a good group though and will continue to improve."

Their older counterparts took their fourth game 32-22 against the Hornets. Spicer put up ten points, followed by Bemis with eight, Biesecker with seven and Golding with four.

Brandi Councilman added two to the Kimball board and Jaydin Paxton, one.

"We started off a little slow on this game, but the thing I love about this group is that they never stop, they just keep working hard," Daum said. "All of a sudden we were up by 10 points because they just didn't give up. Megan Spicer and Sammie Bemis continue to give the opposition guards fits at the defensive end and then they turn it around on offense. Sydney Biesecker rebounded great tonight and had assistance from Brooklyn Golding on the opposite side of the post. I was pleased with everyone's effort tonight and this probably was the best overall game we have played thus far."

Following Thanksgiving break, the junior high girls battled Morrill on Tuesday, Nov. 29. Scores were not available at press time.