Your future, our focus
Nothing like riding 10 hours on a bus, jumping off and going right onto the court to play a basketball game, but that’s what the Northwest College women did last Thursday.
The Lady Trappers prevailed 89-62 over the Northwest All-Stars in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, in the first of a three-game road trip.
“I was very proud of the girls,” coach Janis Beal said. “That was no easy task to do.”
The opposing squad had three former NCAA Division I players on the roster, making the challenge an even more significant one. After trailing by three points in the first quarter, the Trappers blew things open with a 35-14 second period.
“We really got it going in the second quarter,” Beal said after the somewhat slow start perhaps attributable to the long journey.
Kaylee Brown led the Trappers with 23 points against the All-Stars and was supported by Dallas Petties (13 points), Julynne Silva (12) and Kira Marlow (11).
Northwest, now 5-3 on the season, lost a tough, 67-64 game the next night in overtime to host North Idaho College after leading by 10 points at the half. The Trappers then handled Okanagan College of Kelowna, British Columbia 78-50 on Saturday.
“Overall, I was pleased with the weekend,” Beal said.
It was a difficult match-up with North Idaho.
“North Idaho uses a completely different trapping defense than we’ve seen this year or that we might see this year,” Beal said.
Dani McManamen was top scorer with 12 against North Idaho and Charri McArthur and Silva added 11 points each.
After building a 28-21 first-half lead against Okanagan, the Trappers pulled away from the Coyotes in the second half, a 24-11 third quarter being the key.
Alexi Payne’s 16 points led Northwest. McArthur added 14 points (highlighted by three 3-pointers) and Brown 11.
The Trappers’ next game is Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Cabre Gym versus Laramie County Community College.