Mustang ladies lose two conference games hope to maintain seeding for districts

by Kim Bodemann

WG Booster Club It was a hard weekend for the Lady Mustang basketball team as they lost two conference games to Soroco and Paonia. This puts the girls in third place at this point but they must win their final three games of the season, all being league match ups, to hold onto that placing for seeding into district play.

The first big game of the weekend was in Soroco against the Rams. Both teams were at 12-4, tied for second place in league going into the game. This was a game that the Mustangs could have come out on top but it didn’t go as well as hoped. Coach Liz Bauer had a good defensive plan going into the game and the girls’ executed well in the first quarter. On the offensive end, they worked the ball to the inside well. Soroco is a very strong outside team with a majority of their points coming from near the 3-pt arc or beyond, living at the 3-pt line. They are a pretty short team with no size on the inside. The first period was a very close one as it ended 10-11, West Grand down. However, the next two periods were a different story. In the second, turnovers were a big problem as the Rams went on an 11-0 run as they capitalized on five straight turnovers during one stretch. The Mustangs went away from what had been working. The defense let the Rams outside shooters get open and the offense completely quit working the middle, playing more of Soroco’s game. After 3 periods the Mustangs were down 28-54. WG didn’t give up and the final quarter was their best of the game. The defense once again executed as they did during the first only allowing nine points, two which were free throws with 13 seconds left. On the offensive side of the ball, the Mustangs pounded the middle and was very successful against the Rams size as the team scored 22 points in the period. But, out of time WG lost 50-63.

Overall the Mustangs shot 30%, but a big difference was at 3-pt range, WG was at 8% to Soroco at 28%. On a good note WG out rebounded them 42 to 29. In the game, Peyton Bodemann scored 24 points, was 6-6 at the free throw line, had 17 rebounds, and three assists. Jerrika Jones had 10 points, and five rebounds. Having seven points was Gabby Willson with six rebounds, and four steals. Anael Castillo added four points, and three rebounds, as Kayla DeSanti had three points, and four rebounds. Rheann Pesch had two points and two rebounds. Jacey Murphy had four rebounds. The JV also lost their game 35-44.

The Mustangs hosted Paonia the next day. The Eagles are in first place in league, ranked first in Class 2A, and are undefeated this season. They are a good team that are very quick not only on their feet but with their hands. Give them an opening at the ball and they will get their hands on it. Paonia also pounds the ball inside as they only took three shots from 3-pt land, none successful.

The first half was low scoring for the Mustangs as the halftime score had WG down 8-29. The third quarter was a much better period for the home team as they played with the Eagles with only a 9-12 difference. WG never gave up and worked hard to the very end as they fell 21-57 at the final buzzer. This was a very clean played game by both teams with only 13 fouls for WG and 14 for Paonia. Both teams were 38% from the free throw line. Jones, Castillo, and Pesch all had four points as Jones had five rebounds, and two steals. Pesch also had two steals and a block. Anna Douglass added three points. Bodemann, DeSanti, and Murphy each scored two points. Bodemann also had eight rebounds, two steals, and a block. Murphy added three rebounds and three assists. Willson had two steals as Sydney Ritschard had three blocks.

In a very exciting JV game, the Mustangs fought back from a big deficit at half time to win 33-31.

The weekend will start on Friday, as the team travels to Hotchkiss with JV starting at 3:00 p.m. and the varsity at 6:00. Then on Saturday, Rangely comes to town. This is the last home game and is senior night. Come out and cheer the teams on with JV scheduled at 1:00 p.m. and varsity at 2:30.