The GHS girls basketball team is bearing lofty expectations on its shoulders this season. Last week, the stout senior class led the Cowboys to three victories to start off the winter with an impressive, 4-1 record. The girls now sit 2-0 in the 3A Western Slope League.
“We’re doing some good things, the team is coming together and we’re playing some really great defense,” said Head Coach Chad Terry. “We’re still a bit inconsistent on our offensive production, but it started to come together in the fourth quarter against North Fork.”
The girls began the three-win campaign away against the Buena Vista Demons on Dec. 10. Maria Sabas fired the Cowboy offense out of the gate. The senior guard sank two buckets from behind the arc and racked up 13 points. The Cowboys led 13-6 after the first, and despite slowing at the rim, the GHS defense remained strong.
Captain Kylee McDougal earned seven rebounds and two steals, while senior Yaslin Hernandez boasted eight blocks against the Demons. The Cowboys led 18-12 at the half, and distanced themselves into the second. The defensive masterclass ended 35-22 for the Cowboys.
After the opening road trip, the girls returned to the GHS gymnasium for their first home game on Dec. 13. The Cowboys faced off against league rivals North Fork, who started the winter 3-0 with wins over Telluride, Basalt and Ridgway.
The Cowboys jumped out to a slim, 12-10 lead in the first. Junior Ashlyn Cowan stepped up early and buried crucial baskets for the Cowboy offense. Alongside key rebounds from Sienna Gomez, the girls fended off the Miners in the opening minutes.
The second quarter told a similar story, as the Cowboys maintained a 4-point lead into the break. But the Miners returned to the court in a frenzy, and started the third with a flurry of baskets. The Cowboys maintained the quick pace, but still, the North Fork resurgence tied the game 32-32.
McDougal remained composed in the fourth quarter, setting the pace and directing the offense. The Miner defense flooded McDougal with a full-court press late in the game. Still, the senior calmly dished the ball to her teammates, and drew a number of fouls. McDougal converted 82% of her free throws, leading the team to victory with a team-high of 13 points.
Cowan and Hernandez also turned the tide offensively, bagging 12 and 10 points apiece, and Gomez led the defense with an astounding 15 total rebounds. The game ended 55-44 for the Cowboys.
The GHS win streak continued into Dec. 14. McDougal knocked down 16 points, and Gomez added on 14 in a dominant win over Grand Valley. The league contest finished as a 42-29 victory.
The girls will return to the GHS court after the new year in a massive league matchup against the 5-0 Cedaredge Bruins on Jan. 10.
(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@gunnisontimes.com.)
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